The Only Airplane Seat That Works for a 7’2″ Passenger (And Other Bizarre Passenger Realities)
There’s no telling what you’ll witness between takeoff and landing. With so many people packed into a tight, time-suspended bubble, the in-flight experience often teeters between surreal and absurd. Let’s talk about some weird passenger behaviors and realities shaped by the wildly different ways people pass the time, assert their space, or deal with boredom in mid-air.
7’2 Passenger Sought Comfortable Airplane Seating
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For Olivier Richters—better known as “The Dutch Giant”—air travel is a mission to find the one spot on the plane where he doesn’t have to fold in half. At 7 feet 2 inches tall, even walking down the aisle is a tight squeeze. His go-to is the emergency exit row because it’s the only seat without another jammed up directly in front of him.
First-Timer Mistakenly Opened Emergency Exit Mid-Air
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September 22, 2018, started like any other flight for passengers on GoAir Flight G8 149—until a confused first-timer gave everyone a sudden jolt of adrenaline. Somewhere mid-air between Delhi and Patna, a young man went for the exit door instead of the lavatory. Thankfully, aircraft doors don’t budge mid-flight thanks to pressurization, and the alert crew stepped in before anything escalated.
Flight Attendant Played Cupid
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Flight attendant Lia Volpe shared a moment that stood out: a male passenger asked her to deliver his contact info, scrawled on a napkin, to a woman in seat 8C. She played messenger, and the woman responded with a smile, a blush, and, eventually, a shared walk down the jet bridge.
Infant Was Found Unexpectedly in Overhead Bin
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Flight attendant Lia Volpe was mid-shift on a typical flight when she spotted something truly unexpected wedged between suitcases—a baby. The child’s mother, completely unfazed, explained she thought the bin was a designated sleeping space. It looked enough like a bassinet, she reasoned, and seemed like the right spot for some mid-air rest.
Passenger Attempted Smoking in Lavatory
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On a five-hour flight, a nicotine-starved passenger hit his limit. After politely asking to smoke in the lavatory—and being firmly denied—he decided to take matters into his own hands. Confronted mid-flight, he pointed to the ashtray on the lavatory door, thinking it was a smoking zone. It wasn’t. Ashtrays still exist on planes, not as a green light but as a last-resort safety feature.
Foul Odor Forced Aircraft to Return
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In March 2015, a British Airways flight headed for Dubai made a U-turn 30 minutes after takeoff. A potent odor from the lavatory filled the cabin, and the pilot informed passengers that the smell—courtesy of “liquid fecal excrement”—made the seven-hour journey a no-go. The decision to turn back may have raised eyebrows, but in a sealed cabin with recycled air, it was the right call.
An Elderly Woman Tried Boarding a Washing Machine
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On a Boeing 747, a seasoned flight attendant found herself face-to-face with a determined elderly woman attempting to roll a full-sized washing machine right onto the aircraft, fully intending to tuck it into the overhead bin like a carry-on. The captain eventually stepped in, kindly explaining that while the skies are friendly, they’re not appliance-friendly.
Airplane Crew Made A Crucial Mistake
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In September 2018, a Jet Airways flight from Mumbai to Jaipur took off without one crucial step: pressurizing the cabin. Shortly after reaching altitude, passengers complained of nosebleeds, ear pain, and sharp headaches. Oxygen masks dropped, and the flight made a quick return to Mumbai. Everyone received medical care, and the crew was grounded pending investigation.
Passenger Stepped Out Onto Plane Wing
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Mistaking the sight of fuel being dumped (a standard pre-landing procedure) for a sign the plane was in trouble, a passenger panicked, grabbed his briefcase, and made his way straight for the door. He popped open the aircraft door and stepped out onto the wing. The man was saved, but the incident showed how quickly misinformation and fear can spiral.
Air India Continued Flight After Impact
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Just minutes after takeoff on October 12, 2018, Air India Express Flight IX 611 clipped the airport’s perimeter wall out of Tiruchirappalli. The Boeing 737-800 suffered severe damage to its underside, but the crew continued to Dubai, unaware of the hit. Unaware of the impact, the crew continued flying until officials on the ground spotted debris and quickly alerted them.
Service Dog “Stole” First-Class Seat
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In December 2024, a Delta passenger boarded their flight expecting first-class comfort, only to find a service dog comfortably occupying the seat. The passenger’s upgrade was quickly revoked at the gate to accommodate the canine companion of a passenger with a disability. While the airline followed legal requirements under the Air Carrier Access Act, the lack of early communication rubbed some travelers the wrong way.
Water Spread Through Aircraft Aisle Mid-Flight
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On December 7, 2024, somewhere in middle America, an American Airlines flight turned into an water feature. A leak from the rear lavatory slowly transformed the aisle into a narrow stream, catching passengers off guard as it crept past carry-ons and under unsuspecting shoes. Despite quick action from the crew, the water kept spreading.
Mouse Sighting Delayed Transatlantic Flight
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Flight BA285 was moments from leaving the gate at Heathrow in March 2017 when a passenger scampered into the spotlight. A mouse made a surprise appearance in the cabin, bringing the London-to-San Francisco journey to a halt before it even began. The airline swapped out the Boeing 777 to be safe, racking up a compensation bill north of $300,000.
Loose Iguanas Discovered in Aircraft Cargo Hold
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Just as a WestJet flight was set to depart Cuba for Toronto in September 2016, ground crews uncovered a problem no checklist had covered: two iguanas had broken free in the cargo hold. A passenger had packed four of them into checked luggage, but only half stayed zipped in for the ride.