A video showing unruly behavior on a Thailand-bound flight has sparked a heated online debate about the travel etiquette of Indian passengers. The footage, shared on Instagram by user Ankit Kumar, shows passengers standing, eating and chatting, casually ignoring repeated requests from Thai AirAsia cabin crew to be seated. The incident has sparked widespread criticism and discussion about the importance of civic sentiment in air travel.
In the video, Ankit Kumar expressed his dismay at the unruly behaviour, stating that “Indians love to insult themselves”. The clip highlights groups of passengers crowding the aisles mid-flight, ignoring multiple announcements by staff to follow safety rules. Frustrated by this behaviour, Ankit ended his video with a sharp comment: “Put them on the train.”
The video has garnered a lot of reactions online. Many criticized the commuters' actions, linking them to larger societal behavioral problems. One user noted, “Money doesn't buy you class!” Another commented, “Indians should first learn civic sense and then move among common people. I am Indian too, but some people are on another level.
Some users defended passengers, arguing that standing in the aisle is fine as long as the seat belt sign is off. “Stop fussing over the small stuff,” commented one person.
In response, Ankit Kumar lashed out in a follow-up reel claiming that the passengers were howling and disturbing others trying to sleep, despite repeated requests from the cabin crew to sit down.
The incident also led to wider debates about the behavior of Indian tourists abroad. One user, who claims to have lived in Thailand for several years, shared his frustration, saying, “Women and locals get sick of Indian men the most.”