In a recent viral Reddit post, a pilot’s response to a passenger’s impatience to get off a plane has sparked controversy. The incident unfolded after an eight-hour flight, as the aircraft was taxiing to the gate a woman rushed to the doors, rather than waiting for the plane to stop and the seatbelt sign to turn off.
The Incident
As passengers observed the incident, the captain seized an opportunity for an intervention. He announced over the intercom that a “special guest” was on board and would be greeted upon arrival at the gate. The passengers watched with amusement as the captain orchestrated a whole plan. The captain proceeded to walk down the aisle, asking the woman to step back incrementally with each request. As the woman reluctantly complied, the captain playfully engaged the audience, heightening the anticipation for the reveal of the special guest. Ultimately, the “special guest” was none other than the impatient passenger herself, who ended up seated in row 42C, after the captain kept asking her to step back. The captain then announced to the plane that this woman was the “special guest,” implying that she thought she was better than everyone else, which is why she felt she should get off the plane first.
The Controversy
While some defended the passenger’s actions, saying perhaps she had discomfort or anxiety during air travel, many applauded the pilot’s response. One Reddit user commented on the original post, “I had to do a brief 35-minute connecting flight last weekend and it was a smooth trip, no turbulence, etc., but I still ended up incredibly nauseous (to the point of sweating) because I get such bad motion sickness. It’s great that it’s ‘literally nothing’ to you, but not everyone has the same easygoing attitude as you when it comes to flying – and that’s ok.” Another Reddit user disagreed, writing, “I have a T-shirt that says, ‘STOP STANDING UP WHEN THE PLANE LANDS.’ People either love it or don’t get it.”
While we think this woman was certainly rude, we also recognize that we don’t know what her situation was or why she was in such a rush. If you ask us, the pilot should’ve given this passenger the benefit of the doubt. By publicly embarrassing her like that, he lost all the moral high ground.