A group of passengers conducted an in-cabin worship session on a British Airways flight from London to Jamaica. They were singing and chanting, and being lead in prayer from the aisle – for what was reportedly nearly 3 hours. One passenger on board says it began about an hour into the flight and ran for 150 minutes. The preacher was eventually told to sit when the seatbelt sign came on. This appears to be older footage that’s resurfaced and gone viral again.
'Nightmare' British Airways flight to Jamaica turns into three-hour airborne church service
Passengers on the nine-hour Heathrow-Montego Bay flight endured nonstop preaching, singing, chanting and praying from a vocal group just one hour in, with a man standing on his seat and a… pic.twitter.com/VncPUTbTp0
— G R I F T Y (@GriftReport) February 4, 2026
Most people see being trapped inside a metal tube, unable to escape the noise and proselytizing as a hard negative. A smaller set of online commenters defend it as uplifting, communal and “needed.”
Live and Let’s Fly says “I recognize that Jesus Himself said, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation”” but I’d point out he also said to pray in private not – not to pray to be seen praying. (Matthew 6:5-7 KJV)
And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
In the fall, spontaneous worship broke out on an American Airlines flight. Also last year, a JetBlue passenger blessed their plane with holy water. Another woman caught the spirit – also on a flight to Jamaica.
Kingston, Jamaica. Saying prayers before you arrive at that third world dump.
@Coffee Please — With your display of overt bigotry… Ja’makin’ me crazy, mon! (Great, now I’m hungry for some extra spicy jerk chicken.) In all seriousness, no one, regardless of background, race, gender, nationality, religion, or anything, should be evangelizing or interrupting others on flights like this. Crew should’ve shut that down, immediately.
I don’t respond to gratuitous nastiness and anger. Sticking to the subject, this does sound like a hellish flight. The FAs should have stopped things right away.
@1990
Have you been to KIN? You really should visit that paradise.
Missed opportunity to work in a mention of the magical healing powers of (RIP) the Southwest Preboarding Program
An over-the-ear Noise Canceling Headphone is my favorite travel accessory. It can be passive aggressive, but the message is clear.
After the 150-minute British Airways in-flight worship service, did the plane land in Jamaica or was it just raptured straight to paradise? Upon landing, did all the wheelchair passengers leap up, toss their crutches and wheelchairs aside, and conga-line off the plane—maybe even moonwalking past customs? And if the flight attendants allow the use of the PA, does the flight deck get a discount on salvation, or do they just request hymns as in-flight entertainment?
Pretty sure BA doesn’t fly Heathrow to Jamaica. It’s all Gatwick
Ken A. Well and judiciously put.
I’m not a fan of negro spirituals. That had to be grueling. Pax should get a refund.
Never had that happen on an flight I flew. Earplugs would work, though, so keep a supply handy.
No. Just no. This is religious harassment. Ramming your religious beliefs down my throat is not acceptable. And, no, I should not have to put on noise cancelling headphones just so I don’t have to listen to this sh!t.
I respect everyone’s right to believe in and worship whatever deity they wish and will defend their right to do so. But you cross the line when you push your religious beliefs on me.
Extremely offensive to the fast growing group of aesthists in many parts of the World , Aestists including me. That loudmouth would have yo deal with me on a plane!
@Sprinter D
It’s offensive to most people whether or not they’re “aesthists” or “aestists” or atheists. I don’t want to be disturbed by anyone speaking loudly on a plane for 150 minutes or 15 minutes even if I agree with them.
Religion, like sex should be practiced in private by consenting adults.
They were being LED in prayer, not being LEAD in prayer – unless they were chunks of praying pieces of metal.
Even though I’m a Christian, I would be sorely tempted to start singing the praises of Cthulhu or the Flying Spaghetti Monster.
Very Christian-like, imposing your ideas, thoughts, livelihood into others without them asking. What else do you really expect?