Are Indian males the worst flyers? They take ‘secret pictures, make creepy feedback’ on planes

Tales of unruly behaviour by Indian passengers on flights appear to crop up far too typically. From the notorious “pee-gate” episodes to cases of verbal abuse aimed toward cabin crew, Indian flyers, significantly males, have incessantly drawn criticism for crossing the road within the air.

Now, a blunt put up by a business airline pilot on Reddit has reignited the controversy. The pilot, who claims to work for a world airline, expressed each frustration and embarrassment over the rising variety of complaints from cabin crew about the way in which some Indian males behave towards feminine flight attendants.

And this isn’t only a one-off on-line rant. It echoes a string of incidents which have made headlines in recent times, elevating severe considerations concerning the rising passenger misbehaviour within the skies.

Right here’s a more in-depth look

In a candid Reddit put up dated July 14, the nameless pilot shared her frustration over repeated incidents of disrespect in direction of flight attendants, together with undesirable pictures, creepy feedback, staring, and inappropriate bodily contact.

“We’re speaking about issues like secretly taking pictures of them, making creepy feedback, staring, and even making an attempt to ‘unintentionally’ brush up towards them. And sadly, as a rule, it’s Indian males,” nameless pilot wrote.

She clarified that not all Indian males behave this manner, however stated the sample has develop into so frequent, cabin crews have come to anticipate it.

“It’s truthfully embarrassing. I hate that we’re constructing such a nasty popularity due to the actions of some, nevertheless it retains taking place typically sufficient that crew members instantly recognise the sample,” she added. “I genuinely don’t perceive what goes via somebody’s head once they suppose it’s okay to deal with one other skilled. Whether or not it’s entitlement, lack of publicity, or simply plain disrespect, it’s one thing we critically want to speak about extra brazenly.”

The put up shortly gained traction, drawing responses from crew members internationally. One cabin crew member even stated that they dread flights with largely Indian passengers, with one even calling them “a number of the worst passengers to cope with.”

In line with a report by The Print, some overseas airways even present “hardship allowances” to their crew for India-bound flights.

‘Indians drink nonstop’

Misbehaviour isn’t restricted to creepy feedback. Alcohol-fuelled incidents on flights involving Indian passengers have made headlines a number of occasions in recent times—most infamously the string of “pee-gate” instances.

In April 2025, an Indian man named Tushar Masand allegedly urinated on a Japanese co-passenger throughout an Air India flight from Delhi to Bangkok. He was reportedly intoxicated on the time.

An analogous case surfaced in March 2023, when Arya Vohra, an Indian pupil at a US college, was banned by American Airways after allegedly urinating on a fellow passenger.

And in maybe essentially the most extensively reported case, Shankar Mishra was arrested after urinating on an aged girl throughout a New York to Delhi Air India flight.

Ritu Kapoor (title modified), a flight attendant with Air India, advised The Print that some Indian passengers deal with worldwide flights like an “open bar.”

“Indian passengers deal with worldwide flights like an open bar and drink continuous,” she stated. “When a male crew member tells a passenger that he can’t have further drinks, company pay attention and obey. However when a feminine employees member says the identical factor, male passengers typically get much more aggressive. A ’no’ from a girl is unacceptable.”

Arguments, abuse and entitlement

It’s not simply drunken misbehaviour that cabin crews cope with; verbal abuse and a powerful sense of entitlement are simply as widespread. Feminine flight attendants, specifically, typically face passengers who shout, argue, and even make threats when issues don’t go their means.

One such incident from 2022 went viral, involving an IndiGo flight from Istanbul to Delhi. A passenger had an argument with an air hostess over meal availability, and a video of their trade sparked widespread debate on-line.

Typical Indian behaviour. I’ve paid cash you’re my servant.
Kudos to the air hostess for standing as much as an asshole passenger. I simply hope @IndiGo6E would not reprimand her for her justified anger. https://t.co/TPLpZZkchz

— Too Opinionated (@ToooOpinionated) December 21, 2022

Within the clip, the crew member is heard saying, “Due to you, my crew is crying. Please perceive that there are carts with counted meals.” The passenger—who isn’t seen, however might be heard—asks, “Why are you yelling?” prompting the attendant to reply firmly: “Since you are yelling at us. I’m so sorry, sir, however you can not discuss to the crew like that.” When the passenger retorts with, “You’re a servant right here,” she doesn’t maintain again: “I’m an worker, I’m not your servant. You can not discuss to me like that.”

These cases are only a few amongst many, highlighting a rising concern about how passengers deal with airline employees within the air.

Larissa, a former Jet Airways flight attendant, advised Vogue India that feminine crew are sometimes advised to remain quiet and never escalate such conditions. “It’s nearly like being advised that girls don’t have it simple anyway, so why create extra issues for your self,” she stated.

In additional severe conditions, pilots can alert the Central Industrial Safety Pressure (CISF) and request that the disruptive passenger be detained upon touchdown—however even that, she added, not often brings lasting change.

Whereas shouting matches and entitlement are disturbing sufficient, what typically pushes the boundary into clear harassment is the form of creepy behaviour many feminine flight attendants recurrently face, often from male passengers.

In a case from 2022, a passenger seated within the first row of SpiceJet flight SG157 from Delhi to Mumbai was caught clicking pictures of a crew member whereas she was seated on the bounce seat throughout takeoff.

“The passenger was confronted by the crew members. He deleted the photographs from his cellphone and apologised for his motion. The passenger additionally gave a written apology,” SpiceJet stated in an official assertion. The Delhi Fee for Ladies (DCW) even launched inquiries into the incident.

Sadly, this isn’t an remoted incident. In a Vogue India report, a flight attendant named Shalini recalled being caught utterly off guard whereas working a New York–Delhi flight. As passengers had been deboarding, a person from firstclass walked up, kissed her on the cheek, and stated, “Possibly you may open a bottle of wine with me in my residence.” Shocked, she froze. She simply thanked him for flying with us and went numb.

Such incidents are a reminder of the place we stand as a society. It’s excessive time for passengers, airways, and even authorities to take these considerations critically and be sure that flying stays a secure, respectful expertise for everybody on board.

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