Did Singapore Airlines breach duty of care in allergy incident?

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Singapore Airlines Faces Negligence Lawsuit Over In-Flight Allergic Reaction

A Singapore Airlines flight from Germany to the United States was diverted to France in October 2024 after a passenger, Doreen Benary, suffered a severe allergic reaction to shrimp. Benary subsequently filed a negligence lawsuit against the airline in a US federal court, alleging a breach of duty of care and failure to adhere to safety protocols. The lawsuit claims this incident resulted in significant pain, anguish, and financial losses for Benary.
Allegation of Serving Prohibited Food

The core of the lawsuit revolves around the allegation that a Singapore Airlines crew member served Doreen Benary a meal containing shrimp, despite her having explicitly informed cabin crew of her severe shrimp allergy at the commencement of Flight SQ026 from Frankfurt to New York. Benary claims she began experiencing adverse effects almost immediately after consuming a portion of the meal. The flight attendant reportedly acknowledged the error and offered an apology, according to the complaint.
Diversion and Medical Treatment

Following the allergic reaction, the aircraft was diverted to Paris, where Benary received emergency medical attention at two different medical facilities. The lawsuit characterizes the treatment received as "painful" and asserts that the incident has caused Benary "great pain, agony, and mental anguish," in addition to incurring financial losses. The details regarding whether Benary carried an epinephrine injector, a standard treatment for severe allergic reactions, were not specified in the provided information.
Previous Allergy-Related Scrutiny

This incident is not the first instance of Singapore Airlines facing scrutiny concerning passenger allergies. In 2017, an event involving a toddler with a peanut allergy, who became ill on a flight after peanut snacks were opened in close proximity, led the airline to cease serving peanuts as snacks across all classes in April 2018. These were subsequently replaced with alternative snacks such as peas and crackers.
Airline's Allergy Policy and Advisories

While Singapore Airlines does provide passengers with the option to request non-strict nut-free meals, with a requirement for at least 48 hours' notice before departure, the airline states it cannot guarantee an entirely allergy-free environment on board. The airline's official advisories recommend that travellers with severe allergies consult their physicians before flying and implement all necessary precautions, acknowledging the inherent risk of exposure during travel.

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Did Singapore Airlines breach duty of care in allergy incident?

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