 "An anonymous pilot shared her frustration over repeated incidents of disrespect towards flight attendants, including unwanted photos, creepy comments, staring, and inappropriate physical contact. Image for Representation")
Stories of unruly behaviour by Indian passengers on flights seem to crop up far too often. From the infamous “pee-gate” episodes to instances of verbal abuse aimed at cabin crew, Indian flyers, particularly men, have frequently drawn criticism for crossing the line in the air.
Now, a blunt post by a commercial airline pilot on Reddit has reignited the debate. The pilot, who claims to work for an international airline, expressed both frustration and embarrassment over the growing number of complaints from cabin crew about the way some Indian men behave toward female flight attendants.
And this isn’t just a one-off online rant. It echoes a string of incidents that have made headlines in recent years, raising serious concerns about the rising passenger misbehaviour in the skies.
Here’s a closer look
‘Creepy comments, staring’: What’s wrong with Indian flyers?
In a candid Reddit post dated July 14, the anonymous pilot shared her frustration over repeated incidents of disrespect towards flight attendants, including unwanted photos, creepy comments, staring, and inappropriate physical contact.
“We’re talking about things like secretly taking photos of them, making creepy comments, staring, or even trying to ‘accidentally’ brush up against them. And sadly, more often than not, it’s Indian men," anonymous pilot wrote.
She clarified that not all Indian men behave this way, but said the pattern has become so frequent, cabin crews have come to expect it.
“It’s honestly embarrassing. I hate that we’re building such a bad reputation because of the actions of a few, but it keeps happening often enough that crew members immediately recognise the pattern,” she added. “I genuinely don’t understand what goes through someone’s head when they think it’s okay to treat another professional. Whether it’s entitlement, lack of exposure, or just plain disrespect, it’s something we seriously need to talk about more openly.”
The post quickly gained traction, drawing responses from crew members across the world. One cabin crew member even said that they dread flights with mostly Indian passengers, with one even calling them “some of the worst passengers to deal with.”
According to a report by The Print, some foreign airlines even provide “hardship allowances” to their crew for India-bound flights.
‘Indians drink nonstop’
Misbehaviour isn’t limited to creepy comments. Alcohol-fuelled incidents on flights involving Indian passengers have made headlines several times in recent years—most infamously the string of “pee-gate” cases.
In April 2025, an Indian man named Tushar Masand allegedly urinated on a Japanese co-passenger during an Air India flight from Delhi to Bangkok. He was reportedly intoxicated at the time.
A similar case surfaced in March 2023, when Arya Vohra, an Indian student at a US university, was banned by American Airlines after allegedly urinating on a fellow passenger.
And in perhaps the most widely reported case, Shankar Mishra was arrested after urinating on an elderly woman during a New York to Delhi Air India flight.
Ritu Kapoor (name changed), a flight attendant with Air India, told The Print that some Indian passengers treat international flights like an “open bar.”
“Indian passengers treat international flights like an open bar and drink non-stop,” she said. “When a male crew member tells a passenger that he can’t have extra drinks, guests listen and obey. But when a female staff member says the same thing, male passengers often get even more aggressive. A ’no’ from a woman is unacceptable.”
Arguments, abuse and entitlement
It’s not just drunken misbehaviour that cabin crews deal with; verbal abuse and a strong sense of entitlement are just as widespread. Female flight attendants, in particular, often face passengers who shout, argue, and even make threats when things don’t go their way.
One such incident from 2022 went viral, involving an IndiGo flight from Istanbul to Delhi. A passenger had an argument with an air hostess over meal availability, and a video of their exchange sparked widespread debate online.
In the clip, the crew member is heard saying, “Because of you, my crew is crying. Please understand that there are carts with counted meals.” The passenger—who isn’t seen, but can be heard—asks, “Why are you yelling?” prompting the attendant to respond firmly: “Because you are yelling at us. I am so sorry, sir, but you cannot talk to the crew like that.” When the passenger retorts with, “You are a servant here,” she doesn’t hold back: “I am an employee, I am not your servant. You cannot talk to me like that.”
These instances are just a few among many, highlighting a growing concern about how passengers treat airline staff in the air.
Larissa, a former Jet Airways flight attendant, told Vogue India that female crew are often told to stay quiet and not escalate such situations. “It’s almost like being told that women don’t have it easy anyway, so why create more problems for yourself,” she said.
In more serious situations, pilots can alert the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and request that the disruptive passenger be detained upon landing—but even that, she added, rarely brings lasting change.
Creepy comments, inappropriate behaviour
While shouting matches and entitlement are disturbing enough, what often pushes the boundary into clear harassment is the kind of creepy behaviour many female flight attendants regularly face, usually from male passengers.
In a case from 2022, a passenger seated in the first row of SpiceJet flight SG157 from Delhi to Mumbai was caught clicking photos of a crew member while she was seated on the jump seat during takeoff.
“The passenger was confronted by the crew members. He deleted the pictures from his phone and apologised for his action. The passenger also gave a written apology,” SpiceJet said in an official statement. The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) even launched inquiries into the incident.
Unfortunately, this isn’t an isolated incident. In a Vogue India report, a flight attendant named Shalini recalled being caught completely off guard while working a New York–Delhi flight. As passengers were deboarding, a man from first class walked up, kissed her on the cheek, and said, “Maybe you can open a bottle of wine with me in my apartment.” Shocked, she froze. She just thanked him for flying with us and went numb.
Such incidents are a reminder of where we stand as a society. It’s high time for passengers, airlines, and even authorities to take these concerns seriously and ensure that flying remains a safe, respectful experience for everyone on board.
With input from agencies