(Legal Newsline) – A new lawsuit against Qatar Airways blames it for the death of a Pennsylvania teenager who suffered an allergic reaction to a sandwich on his way home from China.
The family of Jason Hu, of Dresher, last week sued Qatar Airways and MedAire in Philadelphia federal court over what transpired on an Aug. 21, 2024, flight, alleging Jason’s father and sister were forced to sit ahead of his dead body until the plane reached New York City.
Both Jason and his father Eric had told staff on the flight Jason, 16 years old, was allergic to peanuts, dairy and fish, the suit says, but they served him a sandwich containing one of them anyway.
“Immediately after eating the food product, Jason began experiencing breathing issues and thereafter collapsed due to his inability to breathe,” the suit says. “Prior to his collapse, Jason self-administered his nebulizer in an attempt to regain his breathing, which failed to provide any relief.”
One crew member administered “an unknown injection” that failed to help, and Jason was given an oxygen tank provided by MedAire. The suit says it was not operational.
“Thereafter, Jason was believed to be deceased and remained laid out behind his father and sister for the remainder of the flight, with a non-operation oxygen mask remaining on his face,” the suit says.
Jason was declared dead on arrival at John F. Kennedy International Airport. The lawsuit blames non-operational safety equipment that prevented life-saving intervention and an inadequate medical response, like failure to divert the flight.
Qatar Airways is charged with failing to ensure the oxygen tank and EpiPen used by the crew member were functional.
Steven Barrett and Gabriela Amado of Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin in Lansdale represent the plaintiffs.
