A Southwest Airlines pilot recently threatened to deplane a flight headed to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, after he learned that a passenger had AirDropped unsolicited nude photos to other travelers on board.
A video of the pilot's speech was posted to TikTok on August 25 by Teighlor Marsalis (@teighmars), one of the plane's passengers. It has amassed over 2.7 million views and thousands of comments from viewers in hysterics over the pilot's lecture. Others said the video illustrated why people should always have their AirDrop feature turned off.
Cyberflashing
AirDrop is an Apple device feature that allows users to send files to each other "via a combination of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi," The Atlantic reported. If the feature is turned on, a person may receive AirDrop requests that they can either accept or decline. If the feature is turned off, the person won't receive requests at all.
Many people use the feature to share photos with friends and family, and according to HuffPost, some kids use it to share notes and homework. However, some also use the feature to commit an act called "cyberflashing"—the practice of sending unsolicited nude pictures to strangers, Cosmopolitan said.
According to a 2017 Pew Research Survey, 53 percent of women between the ages of 18 and 29 have been a victim of cyberflashing. A 2021 Bumble survey conducted in England and Wales yielded similar results.
Cyberflashing is considered a misdemeanor offense in Texas, and a California bill presented to Governor Newsom on August 22 would "give unsuspecting recipients the ability to sue the senders if they're older than 18," Insider reported. However, there are currently no federal laws that prohibit cyberflashing, said FindLaw.
'Quit Sending Naked Pictures'
Still, when a Southwest pilot learned that one of his passengers was AirDropping lewd images to other travelers, he threatened to turn the plane around and call security.
"So here's the deal—if this continues while we're on the ground, I'm going to have to pull back to the gate, everybody's going to have to get off, we're going to have to get security involved, and [your] vacation is going to be ruined," the pilot said over the plane's intercom system.
"Whatever that AirDrop thing is—quit sending naked pictures, let's get yourself to Cabo," he continued.
In her caption, Marsalis said the pilot "takes AirDropping nudes very seriously."
Viewers React
Many viewers thought the pilot's lecture was hysterical and compared him to an upset parent.
"This feels like my mom turning around in the car to me and my twin sister [and saying], 'IF YOU TWO DON'T STOP I SWEAR TO GOD,'" Nikki Marie said.
"That man said it like a parent," Kristin Lee Rastall wrote.
Walsmi agreed that the pilot had "major dad vibes."
Grayson Bearden added: "Someone made Dad mad."
However, some used the video as their opportunity to tell others to turn off AirDrop.
"TURN OFF AIRDROP. Bruh, this has been a thing," mackyshivado wrote.
"My AirDrop is always off. Nobody can send me anything. Problem solved," AAMIRA shared.
Newsweek has reached out to Teighlor Marsalis for comment.
More Viral Moments
In early August, a father and his two-year-old daughter were removed from a Frontier Airlines flight after the girl tried sitting on her dad's lap during takeoff.
In July, a family was reportedly kicked off their flight due to an "invalid ticket."
And in February, an Allegiant Airlines passenger was kicked off of a flight for allegedly refusing to remove his "Let's Go Brandon" face mask.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Sara Santora is a Newsweek reporter based in Florida. Her focus is reporting on viral social media posts and trends. ... Read more
