Airline Passenger Clashes with Flight Attendant After Heated Exchange: ‘I Am Not Your Servant’

A viral video capturing a heated argument between a passenger and an Indian airline employee has sparked mixed reactions online. The confrontation, which took place during a flight from Istanbul to Delhi, left several fellow passengers in shock.

Air travel remains a popular choice for covering long distances, with commercial flights widely regarded as one of the safest modes of transportation. While layovers and connecting flights often help minimize jet lag, some travelers still find themselves on extended journeys that can be exhausting.

Airlines typically make every effort to give customers the greatest services possible so they can enjoy a wonderful trip and think about using them again. However, occasionally things might go wrong and lead to improbable circumstances that can be quite distressing for all parties. In late 2022, a similar situation happened on an IndiGo flight.

Issue Solved in Midair

A heated altercation occurred on IndiGo flight 6E 12 from Istanbul to Delhi on December 16, 2022. The dispute escalated when a male passenger reportedly brought a crew member to tears, prompting a female flight attendant to step in. She firmly instructed him not to raise his voice or gesture aggressively toward her colleague.

But she was interrupted in the middle of her statement, and the argument became heated.

The Contentious Conversation

In the viral footage, the female flight attendant was captured trying to calmly address the passenger, whose face remained hidden. Meanwhile, her colleague stood beside her, offering support and attempting to comfort her in the aftermath of the tense situation.

“Why are you yelling?” was the passenger’s interruption of the flight attendant in the video. “Because you are shouting at us,” she retorted. Maintaining her position, she went on:

“I’m very sorry, sir, but that is not how you address the crew. I’m listening to you calmly and respectfully, but you also need to show consideration for the workers.”

The Airline & Soaring Tempers Attendant’s Reaction

The male passenger was confronted for his rude behavior after pointing his finger at the crew while demanding an explanation. Tensions escalated when he shouted, “Shut up!” at the flight attendant, prompting her to firmly respond:

“Stop talking! I’m sorry, but you cannot speak to me that way. I work for you; I’m not your servant.”

After delivering her response, the flight attendant quickly adjusted her face mask and turned away, with her colleague following behind. Several other passengers witnessed the exchange, left bewildered by how the situation had escalated.

An Airline Statement

The unpleasant occurrence happened over meals selected by a passenger using a codeshare connection, IndiGo said in a statement.

The statement reaffirmed the airline’s dedication to giving its passengers, who have always been their first priority, a polite and hassle-free travel experience. Additionally, it guaranteed that the incident would be investigated.

A closer examination of the December incident’s videotape revealed that IndiGo’s food options were the source of the argument.

The female flight attendant informed the man that only a certain quantity of meals were put into the aircraft—served in accordance with the passengers’ pre-departure requests—after he wanted a meal that he had not previously requested before boarding. But she was interrupted in the middle of her statement, and the argument became heated.

The male passenger had requested a sandwich, according to an Indian media outlet; the crew assured him that they would see whether it was available before he became agitated, and one airline employee began sobbing.

Gathering Diverse Opinions Online

On Twitter, a video of the disagreement in midair went viral, receiving over 17,000 likes and over 4.5 million views. Although opinions on the incident were divided, a large number of internet users supported the aircraft attendant. Let’s examine some of the remarks made by viewers of the startling video:

“Good for her for taking a stand and snapping at an obnoxious, entitled passenger.”

Today, December 21, 2022 (Kalvapalle)

“The crew deserves equal respect.”

(sumitsaurabh) 21 December 2022

“The crew deserves more praise! They gave this annoying, conceited man too much leeway. I wish the ‘unruly passenger’ had been greeted by law authorities upon arriving. Perplexing (sic).

— December 22, 2022 (Ax_Sharma)

“There must be a significant emphasis on respect for fundamental human dignity. It cannot be broken regardless of one’s occupation or “social status.”

— December 22, 2022 (PS_IAIOC)

“She is not his servant, and she is entirely correct. Well done cabin crew!!!!!”

— December 21, 2022 (cardenthu 24)

“I hope the crew is not chastised here by @IndiGo6E. It must have taken a lot for her to lose it like way, and some of the people are annoying. She deserves all the kudos for standing up for her fellow crew members.

— December 21, 2022 (bhatiajaideep)

“The CC is trained to de-escalate situations, regardless of their justification. It is strictly forbidden to lose one’s anger when working with customers. In addition to calling the flight purser, she ought to have alerted security before landing and placed the passenger on the no-fly if he continued to cause trouble.

The date is December 21, 2022 (Upintheair380).

“This crew member’s behavior is shocking; how can she be expected to manage an 8- or 9-hour flight if she loses her temper with a passenger? @IndiGo6E has to ask the air hostess for an explanation and teach her some coping mechanisms.”

On December 21, 2022, DharRenuka

How do you feel about this story? Do you believe that the air stewardess had good reason to defend staff members, or should she have taken a different tack?