IndiGo flight's video goes viral as passenger serves tea mid-air at 36,000 feet

A recent incident aboard an IndiGo flight has gone viral after a passenger was filmed serving tea at an altitude of 36,000 feet. The video, which has garnered widespread attention on social media, shows two men walking down the aisle offering tea to fellow passengers in disposable cups. One of the men pours the tea from a bottle, while the other serves a seated woman, mimicking the style of tea vendors typically found on Indian trains.

The video has sparked debate, particularly regarding airline policies on carrying liquids. According to aviation regulations, passengers are typically not allowed to bring liquids over 100 milliliters through airport security checkpoints. This has led to questions about how the tea was brought onto the plane in the first place, as one user pointed out, "How did they get the tea through security? Security doesn’t allow 200ml of water, this guy got like 1L tea!" The act of bringing liquids onboard without approval could raise safety and security concerns, but as of now, there has been no official response from IndiGo regarding how the beverage passed through security.

Reactions to the video have been mixed. While some viewers found the incident amusing and even praised the hospitality shown by the passengers, others criticized the unprofessional nature of the act. Passengers aboard commercial flights are typically served by trained flight attendants in uniform. Several social media users pointed out that the men serving the tea were not in uniform, raising concerns about the lack of professionalism in the service. “Why is this man not in uniform? So unprofessional,” said one user, while another commented humorously, "Soon there will be mung phali wala chaat masala,” implying that other vendors might soon follow suit.

The man seen serving the tea later identified himself as “Indian Chai Wala” from Begumbazar in Hyderabad, claiming recognition for his chai-selling activities. This led to further online discussion, with some users praising the gesture as a form of “Rajasthani hospitality,” while others questioned the legitimacy of the act on a commercial flight. There were also comments about the potential safety and regulatory issues, with one user remarking, “What happened to the rules... norms of carrying liquid?”

This viral incident comes amid ongoing challenges for IndiGo. The airline, which is India’s largest low-cost carrier, has faced criticism for its customer service in recent months. Earlier this year, a significant incident involved over 400 passengers being stranded at Istanbul Airport for more than 12 hours without adequate food, shelter, or communication from the airline. Despite these issues, IndiGo remains a major player in the Indian aviation market, known for its punctuality and operational efficiency, though its service quality has been frequently scrutinized. As of now, there has been no official comment from the airline regarding the tea-serving incident.