Plane Passenger Divides Opinion After Revealing The Person In Front Destroyed His Laptop By Reclining

A man was left furious after his laptop was completely wrecked by a reclining airplane seat, only to be told by a flight attendant that the passenger in front "needs to be able to recline."

Airplane etiquette can be tricky, right? Whether it’s a debate over reclining seats or someone snapping the perfect window view, opinions are always divided.

Now, a 2020 incident involving a laptop and a reclining seat has resurfaced, sparking fresh discussions about plane etiquette.

Reclining seats on planes often stir up controversy, especially when the person sitting directly behind feels the impact. 

For Pat Cassidy, this became more than just an inconvenience. 

The podcast host experienced firsthand how a simple recline led to his laptop being completely destroyed on a Delta flight. 

Reclining seats on planes divides opinion Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Frustrated, Cassidy turned to Twitter to share his experience. 

He wrote: "@Delta small note for the suggestion box, maybe have a little warning sign or someway to prevent my laptop from being destroyed when the person in front of me reclines their seat."

But it wasn’t just the seat that annoyed him. Cassidy was particularly upset with how the flight attendant handled the situation.

In a follow-up tweet, he vented: "I really appreciate that your flight attendant came over to tell me that the passenger in front of me 'needs to be able to recline' and then asked him 'if he was okay?' as if your seat hadn't just ruined my livelihood."

The post quickly went viral, with people sharing their own opinions on the incident. 

Some agreed with Cassidy, saying reclining seats should be banned, while others felt he could have avoided the situation by not placing his laptop in a vulnerable position.

The laptop was destroyed Twitter / HardFactorPat

Cassidy later updated followers, explaining that Delta's response left him unsatisfied. 

He tweeted: "@Delta got scared when @BarstoolBigCat threatened [them]. Someone from corporate called me, but when I called back I couldn't get through to anyone. Still no warning on the seat backs. Sad."

Delta eventually gave Cassidy a $75 voucher, but it didn’t seem to make up for the laptop loss. 

The story continues to spark debate, with some users backing Cassidy’s frustration, while others argue it’s common sense to avoid putting a laptop in a position where it could get damaged. 

One Twitter user commented, "This is my biggest travel pet peeve. I think it's rude to recline your seat."

While another added, "I think it's common sense not to open and lean your screen against the seat exactly for this reason."