Southwest Airlines Investigates Viral Video Capturing Passenger Lying Down In Boeing 737-700 Overhead Compartment

Southwest Airlines is “looking into” a situation involving a passenger climbing into an overhead bin on a recent flight. A video posted on TikTok last week captured the ordeal and went viral, receiving more than five million views.

It reportedly occurred on a flight from Albuquerque, New Mexico, to Phoenix, Arizona. It also is not the first time Southwest has been at the center of Tik-Tok controversy.

What happened?

Simple Flying obtained the now-deleted viral video posted by Tik-Tok user @gmonique_132. The footage features the caption, “Southwest is wildn,” with a woman appearing to stare directly toward the camera while lying down in the overhead bin on the left side of the cabin above rows 12 and 13.

The New York Post reported that the video received 5.1 million views on the social media app. However, why it has since been deleted from the user’s profile is unclear. Details on who the woman was – whether she was a passenger or crewmember – and what may have motivated her to climb up there also remain unknown.

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Comments on the video began to skyrocket, just as the views did. One person hooked by the sight simply commented, “WHAT HAPPENED NEXT.”

Another Tik-Tok user joked… “when someone’s in my seat but I don’t wanna bother.”

Perplexed by the situation, another person pondered how the woman could “get up there,” according to the New York Post.

“How did she get up there?? AND she’s just chillin’ out, maxin’, relaxin’ all cool.”

“Aware of the video”

In a statement to Simple Flying on Saturday, a Southwest spokesperson said the airline is investigating.

“We’re aware of the video and looking into it,” they said.

While not confirmed by the airline, ABC News reported that the flight was from Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ) to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX). Findings from the video and flight data suggest that the incident possibly occurred on WN3716, operated by a Boeing 737-700, on Sunday, May 5th.

Photo: Joe Kunzler | Simple Flying

FlightAware indicates that the plane departed nearly 40 minutes late, which could have been potentially due to the crew members discovering the woman and removing her from the compartment before the plane could leave. The aircraft eventually departed ABQ at 20:36 local time, and appeared to be uneventful for the remainder of the journey, arriving at PHX at 21:00.

Similar scenarios & backlash

The mishap follows a similar incident in 2019 when a Southwest flight attendant was seen peeking out of an overhead bin on an aircraft at Nashville International Airport, according to the New York Post. Last summer, another Tik-Tok video captured an unidentified man appearing to awaken in an overhead bin on a Ryanair flight departing from Ibiza.

The motive for both incidents also remains unclear.

Southwest has, unfortunately, been at the center of controversy on the social media app before. In February, the low-cost carrier faced intense backlash for unveiling redesigned seats on Tik-Tok. Several people showed distaste for the seats, which appeared thinner than the airline’s current product. Southwest fired back, saying the redesign “significantly enhances” its onboard experience, but quietly deleted its video thereafter.

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