Emergency Landing in France Due to Allergy on Transatlantic Flight

A lawsuit was filed on Tuesday by Doreen Benary, a 41-year-old pediatrician from Manhattan, against Singapore Airlines after an incident on a flight from Germany to New York City. Benary claims that she notified the cabin crew about her severe shellfish allergy before the flight, but was still served a meal containing shrimp. This led to her falling ill and the flight being diverted to Paris, where she received emergency medical treatment.

Severe shellfish allergies are known to be one of the most dangerous food allergies, with potential for anaphylactic shock, which can be fatal without immediate medical intervention. In fact, a 20-year-old woman suffered near-fatal anaphylaxis from kissing her boyfriend who had earlier eaten shrimp, as reported by the Mayo Clinic.

Benary’s attorney, Abram Bohrer, stated that they are unable to discuss the lawsuit without her permission. Singapore Airlines has not responded to requests for comment.

The incident occurred on October 8, 2024, when Benary boarded Singapore Airlines flight SQ026 from Frankfurt to John F. Kennedy International Airport. She had informed the flight attendants about her food allergy, specifically to shrimp. However, she was still served a meal containing shrimp, which she was not aware of until she had already ingested a portion of it.

Benary became violently ill after ingesting the shrimp and questioned the flight attendant who admitted their mistake and apologized. As her condition worsened, the flight was diverted to Paris, where she was taken to two medical facilities for emergency treatment.

The complaint argues that it was the responsibility of the cabin crew to be aware of and respond appropriately to a passenger’s food allergy. They failed to ensure that meals containing allergens or their ingredients were not served to Benary, despite being informed of her allergy. It is unclear if Benary had an EpiPen, a life-saving device for severe allergic reactions, with her on the flight.

According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, current FAA regulations do not require airlines to carry EpiPens, but only vials of epinephrine, which can only be administered by a trained medical professional.

While rare, severe allergic reactions have occurred on flights before. In 2019, a flight was diverted due to a passenger’s nut allergy, and in 2022, another flight was diverted due to a nut allergy reaction. Last year, a passenger with a shellfish allergy was removed from a flight after the first-class meal contained shellfish.

Benary’s complaint states that the incident caused her great pain, mental anguish, and economic and non-economic losses. She is seeking damages to be determined at trial.

In conclusion, the incident on this transatlantic flight serves as a reminder for airlines to take food allergies seriously and for passengers to always inform the crew of any food allergies before the flight.