Pilot Has Controversial Response to Woman Who Tried to Be the First Off the Plane

Photo by Sheila Condi

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.”

Photo by Shamia Casiano

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.

Here Are 5 Surprisingly Simple Ways to Be More Confident

There are days when you’re on cloud nine, and then there are days when you’re insecure and doubtful of your own abilities. Not getting appreciated enough or things not working out according to plan may shake your confidence a little, and that’s completely alright. But here are a few tips you can practice to get control of the situation.

Finish Three Minor Tasks

On days when you are too overwhelmed or distracted to get things done, start by narrowing down your to-do list to three things. Irrespective of how minute those tasks are, get them done. Finishing those small tasks will give you a feeling of accomplishment, and those small tasks will eventually start piling up on your tasks completed list.

Do More Fun Things

Try to spend some alone time once in a while. It will not only help you sort things out in your head but also cheer you up a little. It’s essential for you to take time off from your kids or your partner and do some fun things on your own. Plan your days off with your partner, so both are equally involved in the process.

Take a Social Media Break

Sometimes looking at everyone’s perfect life online can be too much for your mind to handle. Therefore, it’s extremely important to cut down on the amount of time you spend on social media. At least once a week, you should stay completely away from your phone and not worry about what is happening in other people’s lives. Because more than adding to our knowledge, social media creates self-doubts in our minds.

Reconnect With Old Joy

Work has kept all of us busy, and there is no doubt about that. But it is your responsibility to reconnect with things that you have always enjoyed doing. It could be as simple as reading your favorite book or playing a game with some of your friends. Instead of finding excuses not to follow through on all of those plans you once made, push yourself to make those plans happen.

Take Care of That Habit

We all have certain habits that we are well aware are unhealthy, the ones that annoy our partner or are disliked by our kids. You cannot completely take them out of you, but you can slowly and gradually take measures to minimize those habits as much as you can, be it leaving your things scattered around the house or using an unacceptable tone with the kids. These small efforts will prove that you’re paying attention to them and care about their feelings.