A toddler on board a Singapore Airlines (SIA) flight recently had an allergic reaction to peanuts in mid-air. Three-year-old Marcus, who suffers from anaphylaxis (a serious allergic reaction — in his case, to peanuts), had been given a nut-free meal as requested, but he started vomiting and his eyes began to swell when other passengers on the plane opened their snack packets of peanuts.
According to Australian media, the boy’s allergic reaction happened less than an hour into the seven-hour flight. Fortunately, the family had brought along four epipens of adrenaline and anti-allergy medication for Marcus — which helped to bring the situation under control.
The young boy was with his parents on SQ217 from Singapore to Melbourne last Wednesday (Jul 12) when the incident occurred. As soon as the flight crew found out what had happened, they quickly removed all packets of peanuts in the vicinity around the family. The service of peanuts in the Economy class cabin was suspended for the rest of the journey.
One netizen, who said she was on the same flight as Marcus and his family, took to SIA’s Facebook page to emphasize the seriousness of the situation.
Currently, any travelers with nut allergies can ask for a nut-free meal when booking a flight or do so at least 48 hours before departure. A spokesperson for SIA said the company is now reviewing the serving of nuts on board its flights.
Several major airlines have reportedly halted the service of peanut snacks on board their flights, including the likes of Qantas and Air New Zealand, although the latter stated on its website that it “cannot guarantee there are no trace elements of peanuts” in its meals. But others, like Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways, do not offer nut-free flights.
