A Black journey influencer stated a latest 14-hour flight expertise grew to become the stuff of nightmares when her aged seat mate napped on her, poked her together with her naked toes, and even brandished a knife in her path.
“This flight was a horror film! PSA: Should you lean on strangers mid-flight… don’t,” TikToker @essiebtravelin wrote underneath now-viral footage of the incident from August.

Essie posted a set of movies displaying an aged lady seated subsequent to her getting too shut for consolation on a Qatar Airways flight, prompting her to name over a flight attendant for assist.
Within the footage, the blanket-covered lady is seen spreading her legs throughout the row, napping on Essie’s shoulder, and even leaning ahead and spreading her fingers throughout the row, leaving Essie with little or no private area in her window seat.
@essiebtravelin PART 1 This flight turned into a horror movie! PSA: If you lean on strangers mid-flight… don’t. #fyp #flight #traveltiktok #traveltips #travelproblems
♬ Creepy and simple horror background music(1070744) – howlingindicator
One video even confirmed the passenger attempting to kneel on the ground to nap, putting her toes in Essie’s foot area.
At one level, the lady was seen holding a knife pointed in Essie’s path, which the jetsetter stated made her really feel uncomfortable.
‘Shortly Shut the Door’: Passenger Movies Chaotic Showdown Over Automobile Seats, However Flight Attendant’s Final Transfer Despatched the Web Into Overdrive
“I’m taking this knife maintain as a risk,” Essie wrote in overlaid textual content on the video. “Calling the flight attendant again.”
@essiebtravelin PART 2 This 14-hour flight was a horror film! Go watch PART 1 for those who haven’t ‼️ @Qatar Airways #qatarairways #fyp #flight #traveltiktok #traveltips ♬ Creepy and easy horror background music(1070744) – howlingindicator
The TikToker stated she tried asking her seat mate — who didn’t communicate English — to attempt to chorus from touching her and to remain in her seat. She even known as a flight attendant over a number of occasions to attempt to resolve the scenario.
After a while, cabin crew members provided the passenger within the aisle one other seat on the airplane, leaving the aged lady with two seats to stretch out.
Essie’s movies present the lady mendacity on each seats and pushing her naked toes into Essie’s legs, prompting Essie to ask the lady to lie on her different aspect together with her toes going through the aisle.
@essiebtravelin Part 3 This 14-hour flight turned into a horror movie! Please tag @Qatar Airways because this was truly UNACCEPTABLE and unbelievable! #qatarairways #flight #fyp #traveltok #storytime
♬ Creepy and simple horror background music(1070744) – howlingindicator
Essie stated that whereas there may need been a language and tradition barrier that hindered clear communication, she didn’t consider the lady was fully unaware of her discourtesy. She stated the passenger was “performing dumbfounded, entitled, and privileged.” She additionally adopted up with Storytime to offer extra readability on the incident and a few pushback she acquired.
Her movies drew practically 50 million views on TikTok, with hundreds of viewers agreeing together with her evaluation of the scenario whereas others had some criticism. Many additionally saluted the persistence she displayed regardless of the troublesome circumstances.
“I really feel like she was doing it on goal. Regardless of the tradition or age variations, she knew higher,” one TikTok consumer wrote.
@essiebtravelin Story Time: This 14 hour flight was a horror film! Please tag @Qatar Airways as a result of this was unacceptable and terribly dealt with by their FA! #qatarairways #fyp #traveltiktok #flightattendant #viral ♬ unique sound – Essiebtravelin
“Both she is aware of what she’s doing or she must be flying with a caregiver. The FAs can solely accomplish that a lot within the air however I understand how irritating that was for you,” one other particular person added.
“Unpopular opinion: OLD PEOPLE DO NOT GET A PASS TO BE INTOLERABLE. I don’t care what number of wars you’ve lived by way of or what number of miles you walked with holes in your footwear to get to high school in 1952,” another person commented. “Performing with widespread decency isn’t restricted to the younger.”