A plane passenger has sparked discussion online after posting a viral TikTok showing what the woman seated next to her was doing during a flight.
The video, shared by @livrubbo on September 14, has since garnered 1.2 million views. Text overlaid on the clip reads: “Just realized that the woman next to me on my flight is peeling nuts and just throwing them on the floor…” The footage shows a woman sitting by the window seat, leaning toward the wall.
“Woke up from a nap to this,” another message states, as the video captures the neighboring woman flicking her fingers toward the floor.
The clip then cuts to reveal a pile of nut shells scattered beneath the seats. “I asked her to stop but it was too late,” the passenger added in the video.
The caption accompanying the post read: “Good thing I don’t have a nut allergy.”
The poster’s concern wasn’t just about cleanliness. Peanut allergies are among the most concerning for passengers on commercial flights, alongside sensitivities to animal allergens, according to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Still, allergic reactions on planes are rare. A 2023 study published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology noted that incidents of allergic reactions during flights occur “at an incidence approximately 10 to 100 times lower than that reported for accidental allergic reactions to food occurring in the community.”
The study added: “Despite increasing passenger numbers and food allergy prevalence, the rate of allergic IMEs [in-flight medical events] has not changed over the past three decades.”
The FAA advises: “If you or your child has an allergy to peanuts, contact your allergist/physician before your trip to discuss travel-related risks and ask if you should carry medications with you.”
‘Gross and Disrespectful’
TikTok viewers were quick to condemn the passenger’s behavior.
User Anite777 remarked: “The way she’s flicking them on your side,” while Spud simply asked: “Who does that???”
Others raised concerns about the safety implications. “I know people with life-threatening allergies to nuts. It’s not just gross and disrespectful, it’s dangerous,” wrote user msdarthella.
Bubblieone said: “My rage couldn’t handle this situation,” and another commenter, Neshia, added: “Nuts on a plane. People have allergies. People need to do better.”
Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via TikTok. This video has not been independently verified.
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