A video of passengers standing in the aisle of an Air India Express flight IX 1236 while it is still moving has reignited a debate over in-flight safety and passenger conduct on board. The incident reportedly involved a passenger taking to social media to question whether proper safety standards were being followed onboard.
The video was shared online by Amitava, a passenger who expressed concern because he saw people in the plane’s passenger aisle as the flight was almost coming to an end. In the video, he can see people getting up and out of their seats when the aircraft was on the runway.
“Passengers are standing, but the flight is going on,” the passenger said while recording the situation. He also questioned the safety standards being followed onboard the Air India Express flight.
The video soon gained social media attention, though viewers were split as to who is to blame for this. Some users questioned the airline and its cabin safety protocols, while others said that the passengers should be responsible for following basic aviation safety instructions.
Passengers are generally instructed to remain seated with their seat belts fastened until the aircraft has come to a complete stop and the seat belt sign has been switched off. Cabin crew often make announcements to passengers during landing and while taxiing after landing.
Several social media users argued that the incident was about passenger behaviour, not a failure of airline safety. Many users said passengers frequently stand up immediately after an aircraft lands and then try to leave their seats even though cabin crew told them to remain in their seats until it is safe to do so.
The discussion also included comments on watching for cabin crew instructions. Walking in the aisle when an aircraft is still moving can put the passenger at risk, particularly if the aircraft has to stop suddenly and passengers are trying to retrieve luggage before the crew has allowed them to do so.
At the same time, the viral video raised questions about whether the cabin crew had intervened as passengers began standing. The footage posted online does not, in and of itself, establish the full circumstances of the incident or whether the crew had already given any kind of instructions to the passengers involved.
Air India Express then contacted the passenger who shared the video. The airline said it was sorry for any problems caused by the incident and said passenger safety was the number one priority.
The airline stated that its operations are conducted in accordance with applicable safety procedures and regulatory requirements. It also said that its cabin crew members are trained to ensure safety protocols are followed throughout the journey and to handle incidents onboard.
Passengers are standing and flight running, what a safety standard of @AirIndiaX flight IX 1236 pic.twitter.com/Axa0U9pn9Z
— Amitava Das (@Amitava35877067) September 21, 2026
The airline thanked Amitava for bringing the matter to its attention and appreciated the passenger for taking the time to share the observation.
The incident is once more highlighting the role passengers play in keeping safety aboard an aircraft. Airlines and cabin crew are responsible for enforcing safety protocols, but passengers are supposed to follow them before take-off, during landing, and while the aircraft is taxiing.
The viral Air India Express video has turned out to be less about a particular moment in flight IX 1236 and more about a wider issue of passenger discipline on a plane. As air travel has grown more common, airlines still tell passengers that safety instructions are not optional and that passengers should stay seated until the aircraft has safely come to a stop and the crew allows them to move around the cabin.
For now, the airline's public response has been about their safety procedures and crew training, while the online debate continues to focus on passenger behaviour and the necessity of following instructions during the critical landing and taxiing stages of a flight.
