Sri Lanka, Oct. 7 -- A Southern California cardiologist flying Qatar Airways from Los Angeles to Sri Lanka was denied the vegetarian meal he had ordered, then died after choking on a piece of food while attempting to "eat around" the meat in meal he was given instead, according to his grieving family, The Independent UK reported.

The pilot couldn't make an emergency landing to get 85-year-old Asoka Jayaweera to a doctor because the plane was "traveling over the Arctic Circle/Ocean," alleges a newly filed wrongful death lawsuit obtained by The Independent.

However, Jayaweera's son Surya contends the aircraft was actually over the Midwest at the time and could have easily diverted, their complaint states.

When the flight eventually touch...