Think sitting in the middle seat is bad?
Online debates about airplane etiquette never fail to spark strong reactions and split opinions. Few topics divide the internet quite like the dos and don’ts of flying.
In recent months, travelers have shared plenty of frustrating stories — from the misery of being wedged into a middle seat to the collective irritation sparked by a passenger using a flashing phone charger throughout a six-hour overnight flight.
But just when it seemed these complaints couldn’t get any worse, a new incident has managed to overshadow them all.
A recent SpiceJet flight turned into a nightmare for one unfortunate traveler who became trapped inside the aircraft bathroom for nearly the entire journey. The ordeal unfolded on Tuesday, January 16, aboard Flight SG-268.
The aircraft departed Mumbai at 2 AM local time en route to Bengaluru, according to the Indian Express. Shortly after the seatbelt sign illuminated, the passenger seated in 14D headed to the restroom.
What should have been a quick bathroom break escalated into a terrifying situation when the lavatory door jammed, leaving him locked inside.
According to the airline, “A passenger unfortunately got stuck inside the lavatory for about an hour.” Despite multiple attempts by the crew — and the help of fellow travelers — the door wouldn’t budge. As a result, the passenger remained confined to the cramped space even as the plane began its descent into Kempegowda International Airport.
In a moment of panic, the flight attendants tried to calm him by sliding a handwritten note beneath the door — a message that later gained widespread attention online.
The note read, “Sir we tried our best to open the door, however, we could not. Do not panic.
“We are landing in a few minutes, so please close the commode lid and sit on it and secure yourself. As soon as the main door is open, an engineer will come. Do not panic.”
Once the plane landed, two engineers boarded immediately and managed to break open the door, freeing the distressed passenger. He received prompt medical care to help him recover from the traumatic experience.
SpiceJet soon issued a public apology, along with compensation for the ordeal.
“SpiceJet regrets and apologizes for the inconvenience caused to the passenger,” the airline said in an official statement. Along with the apology, the carrier offered the passenger a full refund for the troubling incident.
