Lawsuit Filed After Medical Emergency on Bali–Singapore Flight
Singapore Airlines is facing a lawsuit in the United States after a Northern California passenger alleged that a meal served during an international flight triggered a severe allergic reaction that became a life-threatening medical emergency.
The complaint was filed in a California district court by Tinyan Lawrence, who claims airline negligence led to an episode of anaphylaxis during a flight from Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport to Singapore Changi Airport. The lawsuit seeks damages under Article 17 of the Montreal Convention, an international treaty governing airline liability for passenger injuries during international travel.
According to the legal filing, the incident occurred in August 2025 while Lawrence was traveling with her husband and infant son after a family vacation in Bali. The family was flying from Bali to Singapore before connecting onward to San Francisco International Airport.
The lawsuit states the medical emergency occurred during the first leg of the journey on the Bali-to-Singapore flight operated by Singapore Airlines.
Meal Service Questioned in Allergy Incident
Lawrence and her family were seated in the Premium Economy cabin during a scheduled inflight meal service.
Passengers were reportedly offered two entrée options: tom yum soup or chicken with pasta. Because Lawrence has a severe shellfish allergy, the complaint says she avoided the soup and specifically asked a flight attendant whether the chicken and pasta contained any shellfish ingredients.
According to the filing, the crew member assured her the dish did not contain shellfish and served the meal.
Shortly after eating several bites, Lawrence allegedly began experiencing symptoms consistent with a severe allergic reaction.
Passenger Experienced Rapid Anaphylactic Shock
The complaint states she developed rapid signs of anaphylaxis, including difficulty breathing caused by throat swelling and airway constriction. Her face and eyes reportedly swelled to the point that her vision became obstructed.
Additional symptoms included dizziness, lightheadedness, stomach cramps, hives and flushed skin.
According to the lawsuit, Lawrence’s husband quickly retrieved an EpiPen from her carry-on bag and administered a dose of epinephrine. The medication temporarily stabilized her condition during the flight.
Alleged Lack of Immediate Assistance Onboard
The legal complaint further alleges that cabin crew did not provide medical assistance during the inflight emergency.
After the aircraft landed at Singapore Changi Airport, Lawrence claims her symptoms began returning as she exited the plane. Airport personnel allegedly directed the family to the wrong medical location, which delayed treatment.
As her condition worsened, the filing states that Lawrence had to administer a second EpiPen before eventually locating medical staff who were able to provide professional care.
Doctors later declared her temporarily unfit to continue traveling. The family reportedly stayed overnight in Singapore before she was medically cleared to continue their journey to San Francisco the following day.
According to PYOK, the lawsuit argues that the airline’s handling of the allergy warning and meal service contributed to the medical emergency.
Legal Claim Under the Montreal Convention
The case is being pursued under Article 17 of the Montreal Convention, which establishes airline liability rules for injuries sustained during international travel.
Under the treaty, airlines are responsible for passenger injuries that occur during international flights. Standard compensation claims are typically capped at 151,880 Special Drawing Rights, a currency unit defined by the International Monetary Fund.
At current exchange rates, that amount is roughly equivalent to about $216,470.
However, the liability limit may be lifted if a passenger can prove the injury resulted from negligence or wrongful action by the airline.
Previous Allergy Lawsuit Against Singapore Airlines
The latest case follows another allergy-related lawsuit filed last year against Singapore Airlines involving a similar inflight medical incident.
In that case, American passenger Doreen Benary alleged she was accidentally served a meal containing shellfish during a flight from Frankfurt Airport to New York John F. Kennedy International Airport.
Benary said she had informed the cabin crew of her shellfish allergy after boarding. However, she was served a meal where shellfish were reportedly used in the sauce.
Her allergic reaction reportedly became severe enough that the aircraft diverted to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport for an emergency medical landing.
Airline Declines Comment as Case Moves Forward
Singapore Airlines stated it could not comment on the current lawsuit because the legal process is ongoing.
The case will now proceed in a California district court, where the airline’s procedures for handling passenger food allergies and inflight meal safety are expected to come under close scrutiny.
