In general, I’m not a fan of posting videos of people having meltdowns at airports — “haha, look at this person having a really tough time, how funny.” Yeah, to me it’s not really funny.
However, there’s some video footage going viral over an airline passenger’s behavior in India, and I think it makes for an interesting bigger picture discussion around how policies and norms differ globally when it comes to acceptable behavior at airports.
In this post:
Woman goes on rampage after IndiGo flight cancelation
There’s video footage going viral of an incident that happened at around 5:45PM on Thursday, August 13, 2026, at an IndiGo check-in counter at Bhubaneswar Airport (BBI), in India.
According to reports, the woman pictured in the video was scheduled to travel on IndiGo flight 6E 7352 to Kolkata (CCU). It had been delayed by roughly three hours, before ultimately being canceled due to a technical fault. That’s of course super frustrating. According to what was said in the video, her son was sick (it’s not clear to what extent), and she was frustrated by the lack of timely information that she was given about the cancelation.
Flight cancelations can of course be frustrating, but her response was beyond hostile — she started screaming, got up in the airport employee’s face, slammed computer equipment, and more.
It does look like after some significant backlash, a complaint has been filed against the passenger with the airport police station. The woman damaged a computer monitor, a keyboard, and a passport swiping machine, with damage being estimated to be around 49,000 INR (513 USD).
It’s interesting how airport behavior norms differ around the world
It’s not exactly insightful to point out that norms around behavior while traveling differ greatly depending on where in the world you are. If you compare airport behavior in Japan vs. the United States, you’d think you’re on two different planets.
There’s no denying that as the aviation industry in India has grown massively, we’ve also seen more and more reports of poor passenger behavior. Honestly, we’ve seen a similar pattern in the United States over time. My point isn’t to criticize one culture in comparison to another, but I think it’s fascinating to watch this clip as an American, and in particular, the response.
If a passenger behavior like this in the United States, they’d probably be tackled and tased by police. Like, this wouldn’t be tolerated for a split second, and handcuffs would’ve been on the passenger in no time.
Meanwhile here we see the passenger completely cross the line, and no one really seems to do anything. That then escalates when she goes from being verbally abusive to being physically abusive, throwing the computer equipment. Eventually some sort of police seem to get involved, but they just sort of seem to push her to the side.
I don’t want to be heartless, but I think this woman should’ve been restrained earlier. She could’ve just as easily become violent toward the airport employee she was towering over. For that matter, I think she should be placed on a no fly list. I mean, imagine if she engaged in this kind of behavior on an aircraft, without law enforcement, and without the ability for others to easily get away from her.
What I also find noteworthy is looking at some of the social media responses to this. There are a surprising number of people coming out in her defense, saying things like “when a person is helpless what do you expect that person to do?”
It’s never acceptable to act this aggressively toward others, in my opinion. But in particular, it’s not fair to blame a frontline customer service employee who has no control over the situation. These people didn’t sign up to be abused by the public, and they don’t deserve it.
I understand every culture is different, but I really feel like regulators in India could do a bit more to establish what isn’t acceptable behavior, and create punishments that hopefully deter people from working this way. We saw regulators in the United States increasingly fine passengers for poor behavior coming out of the pandemic, and I think that was fair and reasonable.
Bottom line
An IndiGo passenger became super aggressive after her flight was canceled. She climbed up on the baggage belt, yelled at the airport employee, and slammed computer equipment. It’s totally understandable to be frustrated when things go wrong while traveling, though acting this way is never okay, in my opinion.
What amazes me most is how everyone around her seems to tolerate this, and not actually take any action. Fortunately a complaint has now been filed against her, so hopefully she faces some punishment. If you ask me, this should land someone on the no fly list…
What do you make of this IndiGo passenger abuse?
PS: Let me remind everyone of OMAAT commenting guidelines. You’re welcome to chime in here, but please be respectful, and don’t rudely generalize cultures. If you see comments you take issue with, please hit the “Report” button.
I need to know her concerns first before making a decision on her behavior. There are extremely important reasons she may losing it. I do not know what she is saying but assuming it is the typical frustration of flying may not be the case here. It may be the reason people are allowing this is because they are sympathizing with here plight and would feel the same way. If she was yelling about being...
I need to know her concerns first before making a decision on her behavior. There are extremely important reasons she may losing it. I do not know what she is saying but assuming it is the typical frustration of flying may not be the case here. It may be the reason people are allowing this is because they are sympathizing with here plight and would feel the same way. If she was yelling about being delayed is one thing, but to yell about missing something incredibly important is quite another. No snap judgments here. Someone please translate.
She should have been immediately arrested. Legal action should be taken. She needs mental health counseling. She should be put on ‘no fly’ list for now.One should look into Indigo flight delay as to why and how the airline managed.
I was travelling on 5th Dec 25 on IndiGo, the most impacted day (They cancelled nearly 1600 of the 2200 flights they were operating) of their and India's biggest aviation meltdown .
Saw similar scenes at Mumbai Airport, where people were shouting and abusing the ground staff relentlessly. And their anger and frustration was justified. People had been waiting 16-20 hours, where IndiGo just kept postponing flights, everytime by 2-3 hours, rather than outright...
I was travelling on 5th Dec 25 on IndiGo, the most impacted day (They cancelled nearly 1600 of the 2200 flights they were operating) of their and India's biggest aviation meltdown .
Saw similar scenes at Mumbai Airport, where people were shouting and abusing the ground staff relentlessly. And their anger and frustration was justified. People had been waiting 16-20 hours, where IndiGo just kept postponing flights, everytime by 2-3 hours, rather than outright cancelling them. Then (post 16-20 hours delay) they cancelled some of the flights.
People who had checked in their luggage wanted their luggage back, and even that was not a smooth process by any means.
However, even then one has to realise this is not a matter in the hands of checkin staff or those at the gates. They can only tell what's reflected in their systems and that information flows down from the Ops centre. Having transparency goes a long way in such matters.
It seems similar situation here. I have read some comments here where they have stated that ground staff go on power trips and hence this is ok. And in certain cases, it might be true. It was certainly not true here.
I get it when people state that anger and frustration need venting out, be it in this or other matters. However, when dumped on an innocent party, all I see is them making the day worse for 2 persons instead of one. How much would you be ok, if someone unloads their anger and frustration on you for something you have no control over?
Thats what happens with social media which nobody would have even spoken about 15 years ago.
Main observation: The US can learn a thing or two about de-escalating a heated situation without making it worse. Humans are emotional - everyone has a breaking point. The local news reports that she was readjusted to an 11 pm flight eventually and the authorities calmed her down. You don’t know if she had a nervous breakdown, an unusually distressing day or what else on top of a sick child. What’s the point of calling...
Main observation: The US can learn a thing or two about de-escalating a heated situation without making it worse. Humans are emotional - everyone has a breaking point. The local news reports that she was readjusted to an 11 pm flight eventually and the authorities calmed her down. You don’t know if she had a nervous breakdown, an unusually distressing day or what else on top of a sick child. What’s the point of calling authorities and restraining her? What will the accomplish?
This is where I find things differ most between cultures - in the US we just go through the motions because someone said so. In the rest of the world, especially Asia, the end goal is kept in thought and human emotions are allowed to flow.
Maybe if we weren’t so restraint emotionally, we wouldn’t be so blood thirsty for killing innocent people around the world and we wouldn’t have such so many mentally disturbed people responsible for gun crimes. We have become a panicky trigger happy population and that’s disgusting.
First, I don't support this kind of behavior. However, the response also says a lot of things.
"but I think this woman should’ve been restrained earlier. She could’ve just as easily become violent toward the airport employee she was towering over."
@Ben
Did she become violent toward any employees?
That's the snowflake American way of ending conflicts. More aggression and authority. Smart de escalation strategy?
Why do you think it's always US carriers...
First, I don't support this kind of behavior. However, the response also says a lot of things.
"but I think this woman should’ve been restrained earlier. She could’ve just as easily become violent toward the airport employee she was towering over."
@Ben
Did she become violent toward any employees?
That's the snowflake American way of ending conflicts. More aggression and authority. Smart de escalation strategy?
Why do you think it's always US carriers that crews go an a powertrip diversion for obscure reasons.
Other comments, I assume also includes Americans, seems to see how absurd and unaccountable airlines have become these days.
I’m not Indian and I’m from New York, but I absolutely think we need to bring accountability back to service with a vengeance. “Wokeness” has absolutely obliterated service standards in the west and it’s insane how standing up for yourself is seen as being entitled or abusive today. These days, service staff give absolutely horrendous and rude service knowing they can just “cancel” the second you speak back to them. Nope, I’m sick of the...
I’m not Indian and I’m from New York, but I absolutely think we need to bring accountability back to service with a vengeance. “Wokeness” has absolutely obliterated service standards in the west and it’s insane how standing up for yourself is seen as being entitled or abusive today. These days, service staff give absolutely horrendous and rude service knowing they can just “cancel” the second you speak back to them. Nope, I’m sick of the absurdity of this abuse from people who are supposed to be serving me, and it’s time we put them back in their place.
I fully agree with you .
I agree, unacceptable behavior. However in the USA, it is also unacceptable the way airline employees are quick to call police because "they feel threatened" when frequently they escalate the situation and proceed to ignore or say things like " I don't get paid enough" to deal with an issue.
The first question we should be asking is what airline behaviour is classed as ‘crossing a line’ and requiring a police response.
Too often we enable airlines to do whatever they please and then act surprised when passengers, i.e. humans, act with the *range* of emotions over centuries can be reliably predicted from human beings.
Yes it is regrettable and should be avoided, but without defining a standard of unacceptable behaviour of corporates I think...
The first question we should be asking is what airline behaviour is classed as ‘crossing a line’ and requiring a police response.
Too often we enable airlines to do whatever they please and then act surprised when passengers, i.e. humans, act with the *range* of emotions over centuries can be reliably predicted from human beings.
Yes it is regrettable and should be avoided, but without defining a standard of unacceptable behaviour of corporates I think humans should also be beyond reproach…
That behaviour is not acceptable and makes you think she would also overstep lines when in the air. HOWEVER I understand the comments saying "what should you do when you are helpless?", which is a sentiment I can feel. Corporation are now more and more moving away from the customer, so if anything goes awry, nobody is responsible and you can only call the number to talk to the AI agent.
Ultimately the fault...
That behaviour is not acceptable and makes you think she would also overstep lines when in the air. HOWEVER I understand the comments saying "what should you do when you are helpless?", which is a sentiment I can feel. Corporation are now more and more moving away from the customer, so if anything goes awry, nobody is responsible and you can only call the number to talk to the AI agent.
Ultimately the fault for this incident is with Indigo, in such case they should send a senior employee who you can talk to. If you need to get to your sick son (or whatever the reason here is) you can shout and people will say; "Ah let that women through" and then the employee can prioritise her and make accomodations. It sounds to me, that she was speaking with someone who reiterated "I'm sorry, there is nothing I can do", which doesn't deescalate such a situation.
The issue with Indian carriers is they don’t have similar levels of pax protection European and American carriers do. Even in situations where the carrier ends up delaying half a day or even a whole day, many of the airlines would not accommodate most of the passengers. And we have seen this happen many times in news where pax facing delays in India are stuck inside terminals for upto a whole day. The ground staff...
The issue with Indian carriers is they don’t have similar levels of pax protection European and American carriers do. Even in situations where the carrier ends up delaying half a day or even a whole day, many of the airlines would not accommodate most of the passengers. And we have seen this happen many times in news where pax facing delays in India are stuck inside terminals for upto a whole day. The ground staff are very less empowered and situation only escalates to higher levels and taken seriously if it starts ending up news
This is more weak consumer law than the airline’s fault itself. The airlines does what it does to maximize profit. If regulators don’t regulate any procedures that can benefit passengers like in this instance, you are bound to end up in such scenario where there is so much animosity
American carriers have pax protections? I thought that went away after 2025 Jan 20
It is definitely a cultural thing.
As airline crew I have flown extensively to Indian cities and a number of times I have been uncomfortable observing guests at hotels yelling and screaming at staff, slamming their hands down on counters, getting right in the staff members face.
Now if this happened in most western countries the staff member would likely walk away, call security or do all possible to not assist (which I completely...
It is definitely a cultural thing.
As airline crew I have flown extensively to Indian cities and a number of times I have been uncomfortable observing guests at hotels yelling and screaming at staff, slamming their hands down on counters, getting right in the staff members face.
Now if this happened in most western countries the staff member would likely walk away, call security or do all possible to not assist (which I completely agree with - customer service staff should not be rewarding bad behaviour).
But, you notice in India these people yelling, screaming, losing your sh*t in public tend to get the result they are hoping for in a customer service situation.
Should passengers be rewarding corporate bad behaviour though?
It’s a two-way street.
Yes customer service reps of course do not deserve to be abused, but that’s the symptom not the problem. Corporates should not create situations that put their staff in that position, rather than pretending it’s just ‘business’ and pretending the human is at fault for having emotions.
It’s not just an Indian thing - I’ve seen this in China, Thailand, Singapore and more with the exception of Japan an be Korea. And rightfully so - when corporations don’t treat one well, sometimes going bat sh*t crazy is warranted.
First of all, she is a woman in India. nothing will happen to her, if this goes to court, she'll be let off without even a slap on the wrist.
Now if a man was doing that he would be in handcuffs for what she did.
But I don't support the western meek reaction when corporations treat you like shit and when people come on social media and defend those very corporations. Some might...
First of all, she is a woman in India. nothing will happen to her, if this goes to court, she'll be let off without even a slap on the wrist.
Now if a man was doing that he would be in handcuffs for what she did.
But I don't support the western meek reaction when corporations treat you like shit and when people come on social media and defend those very corporations. Some might say these are bots. Maybe. But I'm sick and tired of every devaluation, removal of benefits by the corporations, only be met with a comment, it's not that bad.
Some of those comments appear in the articles on these very travel blogs. So we know it's not just bots.
Lucky - I love your statement: PS: Let me remind everyone of OMAAT commenting guidelines. You’re welcome to chime in here, but please be respectful, and don’t rudely generalize cultures. If you see comments you take issue with, please hit the “Report” button
Question: Can you add the same "Report" button next to the next pic of avacodo toast that you post??
:) :) Hehehehe. Sorry - when you throw a softball like that, you know I'm going to hit it out of the park! :)
India is a 3world country with 3world passengers and airlines. So no surprise this happens.
Julia is very correct. We need to stop thinking everyone around the world abides by our culture. That doesn't mean we think that culture good. Sorry third world does not assimilate into western culture. It never will. Western culture has been developed over decades and centuries.
I hope you do realize that India is not by any definition a “third world” country (considering it is the 4th largest economy in the world by GDP) nor included in the UN official terminals of LCCs. If you have to be racist, at least try to be factually correct, or as the people in my husband’s homeland would call you Придурок
"I hope you do realize that India is not by any definition a “third world” country"
As someone who travels to India at least once a year and has many wonderful friends over there, I can emphatically affirm that India is very much a third-world country. And one of the reasons for that is the delusions of the locals on how far behind they are vs the rest of the world on topics such as...
"I hope you do realize that India is not by any definition a “third world” country"
As someone who travels to India at least once a year and has many wonderful friends over there, I can emphatically affirm that India is very much a third-world country. And one of the reasons for that is the delusions of the locals on how far behind they are vs the rest of the world on topics such as hygiene, pollution, the environment, and social norms. Not talking about cultural differences but about objectively measurable human development indices.
@VladG not sure about few of your points. I have also traveled to India a lot and aside from the surface level pollution and population woes, I’d say that your travels have been largely superficial and from a narrow lens.
By your measure the West is a third world by per capita pollution created (and shipped), atrocities committed, and damage to the environment done at home and more abroad. It’s hard to forget that...
@VladG not sure about few of your points. I have also traveled to India a lot and aside from the surface level pollution and population woes, I’d say that your travels have been largely superficial and from a narrow lens.
By your measure the West is a third world by per capita pollution created (and shipped), atrocities committed, and damage to the environment done at home and more abroad. It’s hard to forget that the First World basically brought terror and bloodshed most of yes 20th century.
I live in the UK. We have a clean and neat country - we also don’t produce anything these days, have no income and can’t even handle our trash having to ship them overseas. So if by your comment you mean that being a first world nation means using the world as a trash can, then you’re right.
On the matter of personal hygiene, you’re way off. I’d consider the English and the average westerner filthy compared to my Indian and Asian friends (by the way so do they) and their fastidiousness around personal hygiene - from not wearing shoes in the house to daily cleaning to avoiding hand shakes and kisses during greeting, washing before and after meals. I had the unfortunate experience of moving in with some French students during university who would not shower for days. What’s up with that? Is the continent so deprived of water that people cannot shower or is this an environmental act?
Social norms? Yeah - I mean we have given birth to the Incel movement so that’s a great accomplishment I suppose. Oh and gun violence.
So yeah, way to over generalise based on travels but I don’t buy your measurable metrics.
LDCs*
The third world? You do realise the irony that for much of history, the east and India was much more prosperous when ruled by kingly states such that the West could not wait but come and raid us. The India today was the byproduct of the atrocities committed by the colonials, yet it continues to be growing faster than any country on the world. The third world you say? Certainly feels the other way around...
The third world? You do realise the irony that for much of history, the east and India was much more prosperous when ruled by kingly states such that the West could not wait but come and raid us. The India today was the byproduct of the atrocities committed by the colonials, yet it continues to be growing faster than any country on the world. The third world you say? Certainly feels the other way around when I travel west and see the dilapidating infrastructure starting from the shambles that are European and American airports. Thank God we remain culturally distinct from the West with heritage much older than any of your religions and your civilisations.
That’s right - decades and centuries - send that is so old (eyes rolling). You do realise the eastern history predates the existence of western civilization?
There are different social norms across cultures. Let's not use a Western, imperialist lens to judge how other countries live their lives. For example, historically, public defecation was as high as 70% in India.
Similarly, many other countries probably view how the US and western countries live as backwards and inappropriate.
Let the people of her country commentate and judge this.
Just to be clear: you’re defending public defecation as ant-imperialist on a travel blog?
Am I condoning this? Absolutely absolutely not. But from the initial tweet:
"He [sic] son was not well and she needed to visit her son, She was not given timely information about the cancellation even after waiting for 3 hours."
US airlines are just getting around to this, but a well-informed customer is a happy customer. Airlines need to do better in communicating what's going on when events stray from the plan
100%. Setting clear expectations, communicating effectively is a bare minimum for an airline.
I moved to India from the Chicago area about a decade ago, and the cultural differences were significant. Initially, behavior like this used to frustrate me, but over time I came to understand a common mindset: people sometimes need to vent, and as long as no one is physically harmed, most prefer not to escalate matters unnecessarily. People here are also able to let go of things more easily, which I definitely struggled with.
I...
I moved to India from the Chicago area about a decade ago, and the cultural differences were significant. Initially, behavior like this used to frustrate me, but over time I came to understand a common mindset: people sometimes need to vent, and as long as no one is physically harmed, most prefer not to escalate matters unnecessarily. People here are also able to let go of things more easily, which I definitely struggled with.
I saw this firsthand when my driver had a minor collision and got into a heated argument with the other driver. When the police arrived, their priority was simply to calm both sides and encourage them to resolve the issue rather than create a larger scene. Violence, of course, would have been treated differently. In this case, I suspect that she will be asked to pay for the damages and then let off the hook. It's also important to point out that authorities are generally kinder to women than to men in India, despite female authorities on the scene.
I think this tolerance can sometimes go too far, but I also feel the U.S. has often swung to the opposite extreme, where formal intervention is common even for minor disputes. Having said that, I have not observed a major scene like this in my ten years of frequent airline travels in India - they are rare.