‘Behave or we will get off!’: Flight attendant screams at passenger who asked for a blanket

Flight attendants don’t have an easy job. While many travelers think flight attendants are there to greet them as they board the plane, help with their bags and serve drinks and snacks, that’s far from the truth. In reality, flight attendants are the aircraft’s first responders and as such, are charged with the health and safety of passengers and crew. They’re really just passing time when they’re passing out snacks. RELATED: What Do Flight Attendants Notice When You Board a Plane? Here’s What They’re Looking For

During the pandemic, the number of cases of unruly passengers on planes skyrocketed but thankfully, according to the FAA, those numbers are coming down. The FAA says, “the rate of unruly passenger incidents has dropped by over 80 percent since record-highs in early 2021 but unacceptable behavior continues to occur. Airlines have reported more than 1,240 unruly passenger cases in 2024.”

But it’s not always the passengers who are unruly, as evidenced in an incident that occurred earlier this summer aboard a Montreal-bound flight from Casablanca, Morocco.

The incident was caught on camera and widely shared on social media. In the video, which you can watch below, you can see the flight attendant and hear her screaming at passengers, one of whom reportedly requested a blanket.

According to reporting from CTV, the flight attendant can be heard saying, “You will behave or we will get off!” She then says, “I’ll tell the captain right away. Yes or no?” When a passenger asks her to call the captain, she refuses. The flight attendant subsequently says, “I don’t want no bullying against my crew.”

 

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The flight attendant’s reference to bullying suggests that there’s more to the story than simply a passenger’s request for a blanket and as always, it’s important to remember that there are always two sides to a story. In the end, the flight was canceled, a major inconvenience for all involved.

But assuming that the passenger’s request for a blanket was indeed the catalyst for the flight attendant’s rant, was the passenger in the wrong?

Airlines have not universally stopped offering blankets to passengers, but there has been a significant reduction in this amenity, particularly on domestic and short-haul flights, starting around the mid-2000s. The changes began primarily as a cost-cutting measure by airlines during times of financial strain, such as after the 9/11 attacks, the 2008 financial crisis, and the rise of low-cost carriers.

The availability of blankets varies depending on the airline, the class of service, and the route. On long-haul international flights, blankets are still typically provided, especially in premium classes. However, on many domestic and short-haul flights, especially in economy class, blankets may no longer be offered, or passengers may be required to purchase them.

Airlines that do offer blankets often only distribute them upon request, and some have shifted to providing them as a paid service. The shift towards reducing or eliminating free blankets was also influenced by hygiene concerns, as blankets need to be thoroughly cleaned between uses, adding to operational costs.

None of this excuses the flight attendant’s rant but does underscore why you should always pack your own blanket anyway. Airplanes are notoriously cold and it’s hard to cozy up in a blanket when you’re not entirely sure how clean it is. So save yourself all of this stress by bringing your own. I recently purchased the Eversnug travel blanket and pillow for my kids for a trip and it was so amazing, I bought another so they’d each have their own. The blanket is so warm and cozy, light and compact and easy to put back in its travel bag. But the number one reason to travel with your own blanket is that you know it’s clean. Here’s my full review.

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