When you book a Business Class ticket on Singapore Airlines, you expect the absolute works: champagne before takeoff, a seat that folds flatter than a freshly ironed shirt, and of course, SIA’s legendary, world-famous chicken satay with rich peanut sauce.

What you don’t expect is for your in-flight meal to turn into an accidental game of Fear Factor.

In a lawsuit that has caught international attention, 44-year-old wellness influencer and celebrity instructor Briohny Smyth is suing Singapore Airlines after allegedly swallowing a 3.8cm (1.5-inch) wooden skewer fragment mid-flight while flying from Singapore to Los Angeles.

From Thai Pop Royalty to Global Yoga Icon

To understand why this is such a massive deal—and why a damaged voice is career-shattering in this case—you have to look at who Briohny Smyth actually is.

Long before she was leading mindfulness retreats in Los Angeles, Briohny was a household name in Southeast Asia. Born in Sydney to a Thai mother and an Australian father, she spent her youth growing up in Bangkok.

• The 90s Teen Pop Phenom: At just 13 years old, she released her debut pop album in Thailand under the music giant GMM Grammy. The self-titled album Briohny was a monster hit, selling over a million copies and going platinum. Throughout the late 90s and early 2000s, her face was on billboards, television shows, and music magazine covers across Thailand.
• The Pivot to Wellness: After years in the high-pressure music industry, Briohny stepped away from pop stardom in her 20s and turned to yoga for healing and physical rehabilitation.
• Building a Yoga Empire: She eventually relocated to the US and became one of the most recognized yoga instructors in the world. Known for her inversion mastery and arm-balance workshops, she co-founded global training programs, starred in popular video series on platforms like Alo Moves, and built a massive following as a wellness educator and public speaker.

For someone whose entire life and income now depend on running high-energy workshops, guiding breathwork classes, and public speaking, her voice isn’t just a nice-to-have—it is her primary business asset.

The Incident: 30,000 Feet in the Air

According to legal filings, the incident occurred aboard a long-haul flight from Singapore (SIN) to Los Angeles (LAX). While enjoying the signature satay course, Smyth felt a sharp, sudden pain followed by choking sensations, coughing, and severe respiratory distress.

After a terrifying, high-altitude effort to clear her airway, she managed to cough up a sharp wooden splinter measuring nearly 4cm long.

A subsequent medical examination by a specialist otolaryngologist revealed scarring and physical trauma to her vocal cords. The lawsuit claims that Smyth now suffers from persistent throat tightness, vocal fatigue, and pain during prolonged speaking or singing—making it extremely difficult to lead multi-hour yoga teacher trainings or public speaking engagements.

The Lawsuit & What’s at Stake

The complaint files claim for:
1. Medical Expenses: Past and future treatment for vocal cord recovery.
2. Loss of Earnings: Immediate lost income from canceled engagements, as well as long-term damage to her earning capacity as a speaker and vocalist.
3. Emotional Distress: Compensation for the trauma experienced during the choking incident at 30,000 feet.

Singapore Airlines has traditionally maintained an impeccable reputation for safety and service standards. While airline catering teams go to great lengths to ensure food safety, serving authentic satay inherently involves wooden skewers—making this case a complex legal battle over liability, food preparation standards, and passenger safety in premium cabins.

The Takeaway

Whether you’re a platinum-selling pop star, an international yoga master, or just a regular passenger catching a nap on the way to LA, this incident is a sobering reminder that even 5-star flying can come with unexpected hazards.

Next time you get served those delicious skewers in the sky, maybe double-check your satay before taking that first bite!

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