‘Lack of Civic Sense’: Indian Family Turns Flight into ‘Open Cafeteria’ with Dhokla, Thepla Feast

NEW DELHI, Aug 29: A video showing a group of Indian passengers sharing homemade food during a flight has gone viral on social media, triggering a heated debate over public etiquette and conduct in shared spaces. The 25-second clip shows family members carrying plates and eating traditional snacks, including dhokla and thepla, inside the aircraft cabin.

An X user who posted the video claimed that around 15 family members were involved and criticised them for turning the flight into what was described as an “open cafeteria.”

The post has reportedly attracted more than 2.8 million views, with viewers divided over whether the passengers’ behaviour crossed the line between enjoying familiar homemade food and disturbing fellow travellers. Critics particularly questioned the practice of carrying food through the aisle and raised concerns about strong food smells in the confined cabin, while others argued that bringing homemade food onto a flight is not inherently wrong where airline rules permit it.

The incident has since prompted a broader discussion about civic sense, personal freedom and responsibility in shared public spaces, with some social media users stressing that the issue should not be linked to a particular region or community but viewed as a matter of basic public etiquette. The authenticity and full context of the viral video and the circumstances of the flight could not be independently verified from the material available.