A video of a North Indian family turning the cabin of a commercial flight into something like a cafeteria has set off a war on passenger etiquette and civic sense.
Sometime 15 members of a family were seen sitting together, eating their own food and walking around the plane as well as carrying plates, according to the viral post.
The unusual scene quickly caught social media users’ attention and many users wondered if it was good form to do so during a flight.
But it is not just the food that causes problems. Airlines permit passengers to eat food from outside in some cases, depending on the airline’s rules. Users’ bigger concerns, though, seem to be how the food is consumed, and how it affects other passengers.
A packed plane is a confined environment in which passengers sit close to each other for several hours. Food smells can be strong, and the smell of food can permeate the cabin and remain noticeable for much of the journey.
While one passenger may enjoy a particular dish, another could find its smell unpleasant or uncomfortable.
The video has thus triggered a larger conversation about basic civic sense in public spaces. Eating quietly at one's seat is very different from gathering a large group, spreading food around, carrying plates through the aisle and potentially disturbing other passengers.
India lacks civics sense 😭
— Chota Don (@choga_don) August 26, 2026
A North Indian family opened a cafeteria on a running flight. Fifteen people sat together, got their own food, and walked around the cabin carrying plates.
The problem isn't just the food, its smell will linger for the entire journey, and some… pic.twitter.com/Wl9scwON1O
People on social media argued that public transport is the time to consider other people’s safety and that public transport is a shared space.
An aircraft cabin is a common space and passengers are expected to follow basic etiquette in terms of clear aisles, not to move around too quickly, and to respect the comfort of the other passengers.
At the same time, some users have questioned whether the incident is being exaggerated simply because the family was identified as being from North India. Poor passenger etiquette should be blamed for the behaviour itself and not a particular region.
The debate has since gone beyond the viral video. It’s become a discussion about how Indians behave in shared public places, in airports, railway stations, restaurants or public transport.
Passenger etiquette is more important than ever in India as air travel has become more common.
We live in a shared space and simple consideration noise control, personal space, following crew instructions, and being mindful of food smells can make the trip more pleasurable.
