An American Airlines passenger on flight 2329 to Miami from Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic found himself in a very uncomfortable situation on Tuesday. He reports that he was seated in the aisle, and beside him were two passengers ‘fooling around’ beneath a blanket. He began taking video and only one passenger is.. visible, because the other is beneath the blanket.
The onlooker flagged down a flight attendant, asking to at least be able to change seats. She “looked over at them, said it didn’t look like they were doing anything to her” and told him that he couldn’ be moved – that if it bothered him she should “just ignore them, it’s a short flight.”
That’s when he began filming. He showed the video to another flight attendant, who was shocked – not at the behavior of the passengers in congress – that he recorded them. She told him that the filming isn’t permitted, and that he had to delete it.
He says that when he refused to delete the video, that she asked him not to “post the flight number” and walked off.
Instead of embedding the video, I will link to it and also on Twitter. That way you can decide for yourself – no nudity is displayed, in fact you cannot see the second passenger under the blanket. You can, however, see the blanket move.
Here are the 9 most outrageous Mile High Club encounters and this one on the short American Airlines Puerto Plata flight doesn’t come close. This Dominican Republic to Miami flight is notable mostly for the nonchalant attitude of the crew.
You shouldn’t even stream sexual content on your personal device at your seat, because you have very little privacy and also because there are often families with young children on board. Don’t act out that content at your seat, either!
I love how we have reached a point in our culture to pull out our phone and the first thought is to post a video hoping that some form of public shaming will occur – to the violators and the enablers.
Or, whispering to the FA who whispers back, “I can’t or won’t be helpful”.
What about standing up, calling the FA and in a voice that can be clearly heard in the immediate area on the plane, “I believe that this guy is getting sexually gratified by this woman and I want to change seats”.
Old adage . . . “If you make something a big deal it has the potential of becoming a big deal”.
Whispering, filming and posting on “X” is NOT the solution.
Should be high diving the guy and not shaming him
People that video others should be sued and hopefully this person will be. It is NEVER acceptable to whip out a phone and start taking video or photos of others. The “Karen” effect is horrible. BTW this passenger not only filmed something without permission but also was in violation of both airline policy and a direct order from a flight attendant. Hopefully they are banned from ever flying on that airline again.
@MT, the effect of public shaming is not to the violators and enablers on this flight. The effect is to deter future passengers who may be replicating this conduct.
Whispering to the FA, especially on an AA flight, will result in the FA getting on the phone with the cockpit and having the police meet you on arrival to discuss your express intent to refuse to comply with crewmember instructions as per your obligation under federal law.
Standing up and shouting what you propose will result in two things. One, the surcease of congress by the couple next to you. Two, the puzzled reactions of all passengers in earshot and their suspicion of you having hallucinated.
Call me a prude, but they were doing this (and to be clear, I don’t know what “this” is as I have not watched the video) in public. The person didn’t film them in the bathroom, or hide a camera in their bedroom. If you’re having sex in public then assume it will, well…, be made public. It’s not that hard — just keep your pants on and zipped until you’re alone.
There is no expectation of privacy in public and it is not illegal to record someone in a public setting. While they almost surely violated American’s contract of carriage it is highly unlikely they can be successfully sued.
@JG – I fully understand there is no expectation of privacy in a public place (even in your own yard if visible from a street for example). However, it can be illegal in certain situations to record or video someone without their express consent. Also, airlines typically have a “no photo or video” policy. Yes you may not go to jail for breaking their rule and videoing someone but you sure can go to jail for disobeying the orders of an FA.
Also, why does everyone feel they have to pull out their phones and video everything that happens. This and “selfies” are rapidly leading to a lowering of standards in this country. Frankly, I long for the days before cell phones many times when people weren’t so self centered and narcissist.
Shows how arbitrary prosecutors and the FBI can be. Sudipta Mohanty was arrested and went to trial for something similar except there were no witnesses and 12 witnesses that said nothing happened. Here it did happen and the FAs are complicit.
The only thing anyone in our culture is capable of doing right now is whipping out their phones and calling for a manager. It’s so tiresome. First of all just close your eyes and take a nap nobody is hurting you. Second of all if you have a problem then say something. They definitely would’ve stopped if they were confronted. But no just film them and post it online because you have no life.
today there is no shame or embarrassment. The FA should have warned them about what they were doing, told them to remove the blanket and to stop .. Failing that to have police meet the aircraft and charge them. AA must have a policy.
I think many of you are missing the point. Before this was videoed, she asked the FA to move her but the FA stated nothing was going on.
@Jerry – why are you and others so worried about what other people are doing. No one reported they were moaning and had a blanket to cover up so discrete. Are people that upset (or jealous) that others may be getting some satisfaction. Grow up and live your life – quit worrying about everyone else or trying to force your morals on them. God the world is full of prudes and Karens – SMDH
What has society come to when the majority of commenters think having sex in public right next to other people is the acceptable behavior in this scenario, and the person asking to be moved elsewhere while they’re doing it is the villain? The guy was likely recording it as proof that he wasn’t making it up in case of a dispute. If the FA had done her job, he wouldn’t have had to record it at all. I think the commenters who are like “Yeah, high five, bruh!” and “You’re just jealous!” need to grow out of their frat boy phase. I’d bet that if it were a guy on his own jerking off next to you, you’d be singing a different tune.
Everyone has become so LOOK AT ME!!! that there’s no longer any dividing line between public and private behavior. Like urinating and defecating, what they’re doing is fine in private, but not appropriate (or lawful) in public, especially in such close quarters. Especially when they’re in that close proximity to others. Not wanting to be physically adjacent to other people’s sexual exhibitionism doesn’t mean you “don’t have a life” or are “jealous someone else is getting satisfaction” (seriously, are you 8 years old?), it means you’re an adult instead of a puerile neanderthal. WE are not the ones who need to grow up. You’re okay with it for one reason—it fulfills your own sad sexual fantasies, and you don’t want that “excitement” taken away. How pathetic.
But hey… if this is really cool with you, I truly hope someone next to you on a full plane starts doing other “appropriate in private but inappropriate in public/close quarters” things that you are forced to sit there and put up with. Like pissing or taking a shit, changing a tampon/pad, smoking, making loud monkey noises the whole flight, constantly applying perfume, biting their toenails… then come here and let us know how you just shrugged your shoulders and took a nap.
I can’t believe we’re even having this discussion, debating if it’s okay to blow or jerk someone off on a crowded plane. How is this even a question? And as for the two exhibitionists, if it was such a short flight, why couldn’t they have waited until they were alone? Answer: Because they’re mental teenagers who think they’re being cool and rebellious by defying authority. Talking about needing to grow up…
@Hornet : Amen!!!
@Hornet
Slow clap…..
So the “Mile High Club” of previous (and more discreet) generations has been replaced by “pigs in a blanket.”
Wait! AA has blankets in Y? Wut?
This is not only inappropriate but I believe against the law. What if your teenager daughter were sitting next to them and they were doing this kind of stuff. I can’t believe people are defending this type of behavior in public. It’s as if it’s ok because it’s two adults rather than one.
I’d take this as far as you can, both with American but also other avenues as well. Absolutely not ok.
It’s ALWAYS Miami. Why is it the worst for passengers?! Cannot convince me otherwise.
LIES as usual from my 15 minutes of fame please people
@ AC
You’re talking out of both sides of your mouth. First you post: It is NEVER acceptable to whip out a phone and start taking video or photos of others. [Which is dead wrong.]
Then you post: I fully understand there is no expectation of privacy in a public place. [Which is actually correct!]
JG, you are right that it’s not illegal to record in public. You are wrong that this recording violated American’s COC. Check out https://www.benedelman.org/news-062017/
&Gregg – err no you clearly don’t understand.
I stated it is never acceptable (even if legal) to video others. Even if not illegal or in public place people don’t appreciate other’s videoing them. It is just rude and if you video the wrong person you could get hit or shot (and you deserve it)
Secondly while no expectation of privacy social norms (as noted above should end this action). Secondly businesses can absolutely prohibit filming ( which most airline try to do).
Finally even if you have the right to film and are narcissistic enough to do it if anFA says stop or delete it and you don’t you can go to jail for disobeying an order per federal law
I’m In shock, everyone here is blaming the one who filmed the sex scene, but are you all ok with them having sex in the cabin? what if you’re sitting right next to them?
@ AC:
You are wrong again. The only FA instructions you must comply with are those that deal with safety. A FA can’t, say, tell someone to delete all of their songs on an iPod and be arrested if you don’t.
Your other statement is so ridiculous I will just quote it rather than respond:
you could get … shot (and you deserve it).
SAD!
@ Caelus
Nailed it!!!
I agree tge flight attendants should’ve done something but you could’ve spoken up and said something directly at them insteD of filming.
The flight attendant didn’t have to agree anything was happening but the entire situation could have been easily handled if the seat belt sign was on (if not she could have called the captain to turn it on) — It is very obvious that the person under the blanket does NOT have their seat belt on and you can’t tell if the man has his on. So she can require them to fasten their seat belts and the seat belt MUST be visible to the flight attendants (that’s why when you lay down on a flight and cover up the crew CAN legally wake you up to check your seat belt). So she could have easily ended this encounter with a seat belt check!!!
@AC
If a law enforcement officer CANNOT legally/lawfully ask or order you to delete photos from your personal devices, what makes you think a FA can do so because of a company “policy”?
What quality of person is being hired at American Airlines when a FA ignores a customer who is uncomfortable by sexual activity happening right next to him and the FA shrugs and tells the customer to just ignore them and walks away? To think that this FA is completely fine with allowing this situation should be shocking. But apparently not at American Airlines. Is it true the FA returned and handed the offending couple a box of tissues and said “Hey guys. Sorry to disturb you. But when you’re done, here’s some tissues to clean up!” And gave them a wink and a smile and scowled at the complaining customer?
And these FA feel they deserve more pay because they’re “professionals” looking out for the safety of their customers?
EH
@EH – Not disputing it is petty of an FA to ask to delete photos and agree most police can not force you to delete them. However Federal law makes it a crime to disobey orders from an FA. To my knowledge there is no restriction on that. Sure you could challenge it in court as an over reach of their authority but I prefer to not deal with those type of issues. Also even if it isn’t illegal an airline can also put you on the no fly list
WOW,!! 34 yr AA F/A here. Absolutely NOT on my flight. IF, this did actually happen, and it does, the crew should be ashamed of themselves. But unfortunately no one really has any shame these days. Society today thinks EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING is OK. Including, some of the people we hire today. Totally disgusting.
If the flight attendant wants to allow it, there should be no objections to someone filming it and posting it on Facebook or TikTok or whatever. Maybe a shot of the flight attendant ignoring it is also good.
I wonder if the flight attendants would object to a running commentary on what was happening in a voice loud enough for others to hear. Maybe even make a rap about it.