A New York pediatrician’s business class flight turned into a life-threatening emergency when Singapore Airlines allegedly served her shrimp despite her explicit allergy warnings, forcing the plane to make an emergency landing in Paris.
Key Takeaways
- Dr. Doreen Benary, a 41-year-old New York pediatrician, is suing Singapore Airlines after suffering a severe allergic reaction to shrimp served despite her warnings.
- The October 2024 flight from Frankfurt to New York had to make an emergency diversion to Paris for urgent medical treatment.
- The lawsuit claims airline negligence, as Dr. Benary explicitly informed crew members about her shrimp allergy before boarding.
- Dr. Benary reports enduring “great pain, agony, and mental anguish” from the incident and subsequent emergency medical procedures.
- Singapore Airlines has declined to comment on the pending lawsuit.
Flight Turned Medical Emergency
What began as a routine international flight quickly escalated into a medical emergency with potentially fatal consequences. Dr. Doreen Benary, a 41-year-old pediatrician from New York, has filed a lawsuit against Singapore Airlines following a severe allergic reaction she suffered after allegedly being served shrimp despite clear warnings about her allergy. The incident occurred on October 8, 2024, during a flight from Frankfurt, Germany, to New York’s JFK Airport. According to court documents, Dr. Benary had explicitly informed the cabin crew of her severe shrimp allergy upon boarding her business class seat.
The severity of Dr. Benary’s reaction became immediately apparent after she consumed part of her in-flight meal, not realizing it contained shrimp. The allergic reaction was so severe that the flight crew was forced to divert the aircraft to Paris for emergency medical intervention. This kind of emergency diversion represents not only serious health risks for the passenger involved but also creates significant disruption for everyone on board and substantial costs for the airline – all potentially avoidable had proper food allergy protocols been followed.
Serious Medical Consequences
Upon emergency landing in Paris, Dr. Benary required urgent treatment at two separate medical facilities. The complaint details how Dr. Benary was subjected to “painful, emergency medical procedures” as doctors worked to counteract her severe allergic reaction. Food allergies, particularly to shellfish, can trigger anaphylaxis – a potentially life-threatening condition that can cause difficulty breathing, dramatic drops in blood pressure, and even death if not treated promptly. For someone with a known allergy who had taken appropriate precautions by informing the airline staff, this represents an especially troubling breach of duty.
“Describing the ordeal, Dr Benary said she endured “great pain, agony, and mental anguish”, and was forced to go through “painful, emergency medical procedures,” all because of what she alleges was gross negligence by the airline crew,” said Dr Benary.
The lawsuit paints a disturbing picture of what appears to be a complete breakdown in passenger safety protocols. For a premium international carrier like Singapore Airlines, which markets itself as providing exceptional service, this kind of fundamental failure to protect a passenger’s basic safety raises serious questions about their training procedures and attention to passenger welfare. Particularly concerning is that this occurred in business class, where passengers pay significantly more with the expectation of superior service and attention.
Legal Battle and Airline Responsibility
Dr. Benary’s lawsuit highlights the critical responsibility that airlines have toward passengers with food allergies. The complaint specifically targets the airline’s negligence in handling her clearly communicated allergy warning. When passengers disclose medical conditions that could be triggered by certain foods, airlines have a duty of care to ensure those passengers aren’t served potentially harmful substances. This case could set an important precedent for how airlines must manage passenger food allergies going forward.
“A New York-based paediatrician has taken legal action against Singapore Airlines after she allegedly suffered a severe allergic reaction mid-air, claiming the crew served her a shrimp-laced meal despite being informed of her allergy, reported CNA, a Singapore based news publication,” according to CNA.
Beyond the physical suffering, Dr. Benary is seeking compensation for the significant economic losses incurred. These include emergency medical costs in a foreign country, rebooking transportation, additional accommodation expenses, and potential lost income during her recovery period. Singapore Airlines has so far remained tight-lipped about the incident, with a representative stating they are “unable to comment on matters before the court,” according to a company spokesperson. This standard legal response offers little insight into how the airline plans to address what appears to be a serious breach in passenger safety protocols.
