Woman, 44, allegedly swallowed 3.8cm satay stick on SIA flight, suing & seeking damages
A woman, 44, is suing Singapore Airlines after she allegedly swallowed a wooden satay stick while consuming her in-flight meal. The incident occurred on a flight from Singapore to Los Angeles in July 2024.
Intelligence analysis by Llama

A woman is suing Singapore Airlines after she allegedly swallowed a wooden satay stick on a flight from Singapore to Los Angeles. The incident occurred in July 2024, and the woman is seeking damages for past and future medical bills, loss of earnings, and emotional distress.
A woman swallowed a wooden stick from her in-flight meal and is now suing the airline for damages. She was a child star in Thailand and is now a yoga teacher. The stick was 3.8cm long and caused her throat discomfort and vocal fatigue.
Analysis
A Recipe for Disaster: The Satay Stick Incident on SIA Flight
The incident involving a 44-year-old woman who allegedly swallowed a wooden satay stick on a Singapore Airlines flight has raised concerns about food safety and the potential consequences of such incidents on flights. The woman, a yoga teacher and former child star, was flying business class from Singapore to Los Angeles in July 2024 when the incident occurred. According to her complaint, she was served chicken satay on a wooden skewer, and a wooden fragment from the skewer was lodged in her throat, causing her to experience immediate pain, choking sensations, coughing, respiratory distress, and physical injury. She managed to cough up the wooden splinter that measured 1.5 inches (3.8cm), but the process was described as a 'very difficult moment' on the flight. The complaint further alleged that she experienced persistent throat discomfort, vocal fatigue, raspiness, tightness, and pain with prolonged speaking and singing. She eventually consulted an otolaryngologist who found scarring and trauma to her vocal cords. The complaint also stated that she is seeking damages for past and future medical bills, past and future loss of earnings and earning capacity, emotional distress, and more. This incident highlights the importance of food safety and the potential consequences of food-related incidents on flights. It also raises questions about the quality of food served on flights and the measures in place to prevent such incidents.
The Aftermath: A Yoga Teacher's Struggle
The woman, a yoga teacher and former child star, was described as a 'professional singer, performer, wellness educator, and public speaker whose livelihood substantially depends upon the integrity and performance of her voice' in her complaint. Her Instagram account says that she is a yoga teacher and communicates with people as part of her work as an instructor. She teaches yoga in Los Angeles now. According to Thai media, Smyth was a former child pop star who is recognised in Thailand after she had a platinum album at the age of 13. This incident has had a significant impact on her life, and she is seeking damages for past and future medical bills, loss of earnings, and emotional distress.
The Road Ahead: A Call for Action
This incident highlights the need for airlines to take food safety seriously and to implement measures to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future. It also raises questions about the quality of food served on flights and the measures in place to prevent food-related incidents. The woman's complaint is a call to action for airlines to take responsibility for the food they serve and to ensure that it is safe for consumption. It is also a reminder of the importance of food safety and the potential consequences of food-related incidents on flights.
Key points
- A woman, 44, is suing Singapore Airlines after she allegedly swallowed a wooden satay stick on a flight from Singapore to Los Angeles.
- The incident occurred in July 2024, and the woman is seeking damages for past and future medical bills, loss of earnings, and emotional distress.
- The woman was a child star in Thailand and is now a yoga teacher.
- The stick was 3.8cm long and caused her throat discomfort and vocal fatigue.
- The woman is seeking damages for past and future medical bills, loss of earnings, and emotional distress.
If the airline takes responsibility for the food they serve and implements measures to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future, it could lead to improved food safety and a reduction in the number of food-related incidents on flights.
If the airline does not take responsibility for the food they serve and fails to implement measures to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future, it could lead to further food-related incidents and a decrease in passenger trust in the airline.
