- Former child pop star Smyth has filed a lawsuit against SIA, alleging that she suffered a vocal cord injury after swallowing a 3.8cm wooden splinter from a chicken satay skewer during a flight.
- The lawsuit, filed on July 24, claims Smyth experienced 'pain and emotional distress' while trying to remove the splinter and later suffered from 'persistent throat discomfort, vocal fatigue, raspiness, tightness, and pain with prolonged speaking and singing'.
- An otolaryngologist reportedly found that Smyth had scarring and trauma to her vocal cords consistent with injury from a sharp foreign object.
- The lawsuit argues that Smyth was consuming the meal as intended and that the injury impacts her career as a singer, educator, and public speaker, also causing her anxiety when eating or flying.
- SIA has stated that it cannot comment on legal matters currently before the courts.
Briohny Smyth, a former child pop star, has filed a lawsuit against Singapore Airlines after a wooden splinter from a chicken satay skewer allegedly caused significant damage to her vocal cords during a flight on July 28, 2024.12
The incident occurred on flight SQ36 from Singapore to Los Angeles, where Smyth claims she "unknowingly swallowed a jagged wooden splinter" measuring 3.8cm from her in-flight meal. This led to severe pain, violent coughing, and feelings of choking, as reported in her federal lawsuit filed on July 24.34
Following the incident, Smyth experienced persistent throat discomfort, vocal fatigue, and pain while speaking and singing. An otolaryngologist determined that she had sustained scarring and trauma to her vocal cords, consistent with injury from a sharp foreign object.5
The lawsuit highlights that Smyth was consuming the meal as intended and argues that the injury has severely impacted her livelihood as a singer, educator, and public speaker. Additionally, she has developed anxiety related to eating and flying due to the traumatic experience.67
Singapore Airlines has stated they cannot comment on ongoing legal matters.
Smyth, now 44, was a Thai-Australian pop star who achieved a platinum album at just 13 years old, making her a notable figure in the music industry.
“The lawsuit, filed on July 24, says Smyth swallowed a 3.8cm wooden splinter on SQ36 from Singapore to Los Angeles and later suffered vocal fatigue, raspiness, and pain with prolonged speaking and singing. SIA said it is unable to comment on legal matters before the courts.”
AsiaOne
