Passenger Fumes As Fellow Flyer Sits Directly Behind Him On Nearly Empty Flight

Despite the abundance of options, another passenger decided to sit directly behind him, a choice that left Thomas scratching his head in confusion.

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, Thomas shared his bemusement with the world. He posted a selfie, capturing the man who chose to sit right behind him, despite the flight having only two other passengers, who were seated comfortably in rows that were at least 10 rows back from Thomas.

"Imagine having the luxury of boarding a flight with only two passengers on it,"

Thomas wrote, questioning the logic behind the other passenger's decision to sit so close when so many other seats were available.

"Of all the seats on the flight, look where he decided to sit." 

It's not clear how long Thomas' flight was or if the man, or he, eventually moved to take advantage of the extra space. Southwest Airlines has an open seat policy for its passengers, according to its website.

Credit: Twitter / @ChefAnthonyDC

The specifics of how long the flight lasted or whether either of the men decided to relocate to enjoy the abundance of space remain unknown.

Southwest Airlines, known for its open seating policy, allows passengers to select any open seat upon boarding in their designated group number, which makes the choice of the man to sit directly behind Thomas even more perplexing.

This incident quickly went viral, amassing over 35 million views since its posting on Tuesday. 

It reignited the ongoing conversation about airplane etiquette and the importance of personal space, sparking a variety of reactions in the comments section.

One user humorously compared the situation to a common restroom etiquette scenario, saying: "That's the same dude that won't skip the 30 empty urinals to snuggle up and try to talk while it's business time."

Another expressed they would have opted to move seats, finding the man's behavior unsettling enough to warrant putting some distance between them. 

Southwest Airlines has an open seat policy for its passengers. Credit: SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

"I would've moved, honestly. Dude is weird and I wouldn't want him behind me just for that reason," they wrote.

"Same thing happens in the gym. There will be 25 empty treadmills but someone always seems to get the one next to me. What the hell??" another X user explained. 

Yet, not everyone was quick to judge the man's seating choice. 

Some commenters offered different perspectives on choosing seats on an empty flight. 

One user pointed out: "I pick my seat when I book the flight. If it happens to be an empty flight and I'm right behind you it ain't going to change the fact that that's the seat I wanted. Besides it's a damned if you do damned if you don't world these days anyways."

Another shared their discomfort with sitting alone: "I'm sorry but if I board an empty flight im not sitting by myself either.. thats creepy," suggesting a fear of isolation might influence seating choices.

Others suggested a more empathetic approach, with one commenter proposing:

"Guy's probably scared of flying instead of being super creep just ask him to sit in same row maybe you will make a friend," encouraging Thomas to possibly turn an awkward situation into a positive interaction.

While Thomas' experience may have been odd, it pales in comparison to more extreme incidents that have occurred mid-flight. 

For instance, a recent event on a Southwest flight from Oakland to Hawaii involved two passengers getting into a physical altercation. 

A video captured one of the passengers throwing punches at another, landing about seven hits before they were separated by fellow passengers and the flight crew, highlighting the range of unexpected behaviors that can occur in the skies.