Water and other substances can enter the trachea instead of the esophagus, a phenomenon clinically referred to as aspiration or airway invasion that is studied extensively in swallowing and dysphagia research.
The claim asserts that water can enter the trachea instead of the esophagus (aspiration). Multiple retrieved papers discuss aspiration, laryngeal penetration, and airway invasion during swallowing, which directly support the physiological reality of this claim. There are no papers refuting this well-established medical fact.