A family travelling on an IndiGo flight has stirred an online debate after they shared homemade snacks and food among members of their group during the flight. The group in a video posted on social media seems to be sitting together, eating food they had brought from home and moving up and down the plane while carrying plates.
The unusual scene has divided internet users, with some finding the family’s gesture cheerful and relatable, while others have questioned whether such behaviour is appropriate in a confined aircraft cabin.
According to the description of the viral video, about 15 people from the same group were travelling together. Members of the family had to open their homemade foods during the flight and share it among themselves, which some viewers described humorously as a “cafeteria” in the plane, they said. The group's passion and optimism in eating the familiar food when travelling have attracted much attention online.
Food is so much a part of Indian families: travel, celebrations and social occasions. Family-friendly snacks are usually prepared in advance of long-haul trips and especially for children or elderly family members. And a passenger with home-cooked meals or a good diet experience can also make the journey more comfortable to carry around such familiar food. Savoury snacks, sweets, regional specialties, food can make the journey more familiar.
But an aircraft cabin is entirely different from a home, train or outdoor gathering. Passengers are in a relatively closed space, and food smells can be carried through the cabin quickly. That is one of the main concerns people have with the video. One passenger may like the smell of a particular dish but another may be uncomfortable or distracted on a long flight.
The debate therefore goes beyond whether passengers are allowed to carry food. It is also about consideration for fellow travellers. Airlines may have rules for outside food, alcohol, safety and other things and passengers are expected to follow crew orders and to avoid unnecessary disturbance.
Another thing that draws attention is how large the group is. Sharing snacks quietly among a few family members is different than a large group of people who sit together in a few seats, pass plates around or move around the cabin. The more people that are involved, the more noticeable the activity is to the other passengers.
Social media reactions to the incident have reflected this divide. Some users noted the family’s funny behavior and even defended them for bringing their own food instead of all airline meals. And some say a plane is an aircraft and everyone has to balance their individual preference with the preferences of each other.
Food smells are particularly relevant in air travel. Aircraft cabins have controlled ventilation and little personal space compared to restaurants or open spaces. The smell can also linger throughout most of a flight. Even passengers who aren’t eating can be exposed to the smell and it is uncomfortable for a lot of people.
There is also a question of cleanliness. Eating with multiple plates and containers can potentially create additional waste or spills if not handled carefully. Passengers traveling in large groups need to ensure that food packaging, leftovers and other items are properly collected and disposed of according to cabin crew instructions.
At the same time, one must not assume that the family violated any airline rule because the footage seems unusual. There is no standard for whether outside food should be allowed, given airline policies and the type of food being carried and any regulations for aviation and security. Just the viral video does not mean a certain rule was violated.
But the incident has opened up a wider discussion about modern travel etiquette. In an era when air travel has become more accessible and more families travel together, questions about personal space, noise, food, photography and passenger behaviour are also increasing. Good cabin etiquette is generally about being content with the journey while being mindful of people sitting next to you.
When you are going to carry homemade food on planes, considerate behavior is crucial. Choosing foods that are relatively mild, keeping portions small and not disrupting others’ movement around the cabin and quickly cleaning up a lot of the food may help avoid inconveniences for them.
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
An IndiGo episode, in turn, is a viral story of how something quite ordinary in one place can be seen as a radical one in another. For the family, food made of home could just have been a way for them to eat together during their journey. But for others in the plane, too, large food gatherings and strong smells might not be so comfortable.
The debate isn’t going to be simple. What we learn from it is that air travel involves sharing a limited space with strangers. Passengers are able to enjoy their food and family time but they should be mindful of their fellow passengers and act as per airline instructions throughout the journey.
