Join our Waitlist for Expert Advice!

'Treat People the Way You Want to be Treated': Pilot Goes Viral For Rant Directed at 'Selfish' Passengers The American Airlines pilot wasn't tolerating any unruly behavior.

By Emily Rella

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Talk about a pilot who knows how to run his plane!

One American Airlines pilot is going viral after a passenger recorded his strongly worded rant about how he expects passengers to behave and operate while he's flying the plane.

The clip, which has been viewed over 4.5 million times, was posted by passenger Anna Leah Maltezos who started recording after the pilot told passengers to listen to what the flight attendants had to say because they represent his "will in the cockpit" and that his "will is what matters."

"Be respectful of each other, I shouldn't have to say that," the pilot said over the intercom. "People should treat people the way you want to be treated, but I haven't seen it every single time because people don't. They're selfish. And we won't have it."

Related: Man Arrested at JFK Airport For Allegedly Peeing on Another Passenger Mid-Flight

The pilot then went on to tell passengers to not fall asleep on each other, to not drool, and to keep their belongings to themselves within their own personal space.

"Nobody wants to hear your video. I know you think it's super sweet," he said, in regards to passengers who play videos and audio from their devices without using headphones. "It probably is. But it's your business. Right? So keep it to yourself. Use your air pods, use your headphones. That's your business."

He concluded the message by telling middle-seat passengers that his "gift" to them was permitting them to use both armrests as their own.

Many in the comment section applauded the pilot for his matter-of-fact rant, agreeing that passengers have become too unruly in recent months — and that the people who didn't agree with his tone were probably the ones who needed to hear it.

Related: Teen Stranded in Florida After American Airlines Cancels His Ticket for Planning to Leave the Airport at Layover

"Anyone who doesn't agree with what he said apparently is oblivious to social manners and could care less about being respectful to fellow passengers," said one former flight attendant. "The things I have seen people do and say is mind-boggling. If everyone just followed the golden rule flying would be a breeze."

"He speaking to adults… the fact that he has to give this speech to adults who should know better than to mind their own business and is honestly ridiculous," another said bluntly. "People have lost their common sense."

It is not clear where the plane was headed at this time.

The American Airlines pilot has good reason to lay down the law on his fight, especially after the way passengers have been behaving on flights.

In April, a man was arrested upon landing at New York's John F. Kennedy Airport for allegedly urinating on another passenger mid-flight.

"Acts of violence against our team members are not tolerated by American Airlines and we are committed to working closely with law enforcement in their investigation," the airline said in a statement at the time.

A passenger in July was also banned from the airline after he was caught "skiplagging", which is when a customer will purchase a flight with a layover but instead of getting off at the final destination, they purposely miss the connecting flight in order to make that their final destination.

American Airlines did not immediately respond to Entrepreneur's request for comment.

Emily Rella

Senior News Writer

Emily Rella is a Senior News Writer at Entrepreneur.com. Previously, she was an editor at Verizon Media. Her coverage spans features, business, lifestyle, tech, entertainment, and lifestyle. She is a 2015 graduate of Boston College and a Ridgefield, CT native. Find her on Twitter at @EmilyKRella.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Business News

You Have One Month Left to Buy a House, According to Barbara Corcoran. Here's Why.

"If you are planning on waiting a year and seeing where interest rates go, you are out of your mind," Corcoran said.

Business News

These 3 Side Hustles Make the Most Money While Working Fewer Hours, According to a New Survey

The survey also found that having a side hustle doubled as a path to becoming more employable.

Franchise

The McRib Is Back, But Only at Select McDonald's — Here's Where to Find It

This scarcity is nothing new. In 2022, McDonald's announced a "Farewell Tour" for the McRib, suggesting that it might be the last time customers could get their hands on it.

Business News

This New Restaurant Is Banking on One Dish — Because It's the Only Entrée on the Menu

The new hotspot is gaining buzz on social media for its innovative yet super simple concept.

Side Hustle

I Made $14,000 in 1 Week With a Spontaneous Halloween Costume Side Hustle — Here's How

Sabba Keynejad was in art school when he started to refine his entrepreneurial skills.

Business News

This Is the Goal-Setting Method Shohei Ohtani Learned in High School That Helped Get Him to the World Series

The MLB superstar's success did not come as a surprise to him. He had a plan.