Adam Ellick’s flight clip raises questions about civic responsibility and gender roles

US filmmaker Adam Ellick recently shared a video on social media that has sparked a heated debate about travel etiquette and gender bias. The clip, recorded during a flight landing in India, shows passengers rushing to grab their cabin bags from the overhead bins, despite repeated requests from a flight attendant to remain seated. However, when the pilot makes the same request, the passengers immediately comply.
Ellick posted the video on Instagram with a sarcastic caption mocking the behavior of Indian passengers. “Classic landing in India," he wrote. He further added, "Textbook landing in India for the first time," which appeared as the opening lines of the video. The clip has since gone viral, garnering over a lakh views on Instagram. The reactions have been mixed—many users criticized the passengers for disregarding basic flight rules. One user commented, “Absolute embarrassment. Feel second-hand embarrassment looking at this." Another said, “All this to reach the baggage belt five seconds earlier." A third user sarcastically remarked, “The pilot should apply the brakes for a millisecond and then see the pileup in the aisles."
However, not everyone agreed with Ellick's portrayal. Some defended Indian travelers, arguing that such behavior is not unique to India. One user stated, “I have been to the US 13 times and have seen Americans doing the same thing at least 8 to 10 times. Let’s not generalize a single incident." Another echoed the sentiment, saying, “It happens everywhere, and I have proof."

The video also sparked a discussion on gender dynamics. Many users pointed out that the passengers ignored the female flight attendant but immediately obeyed the male pilot. A female user commented, “Hard to ignore the fact that the ‘magic male voice’ was immediately successful, while multiple requests in the female voice went completely unheard. As an Indian woman, I find this very unsettling."

Ellick’s post has ignited a broader discussion beyond just airplane behavior. While some believe such actions are common worldwide, others view them as a reflection of deep-rooted societal issues.