She also wants to go after the airline.
Jeniffer Castro, a 29-year-old air passenger, went viral last month after a video shaming her was posted online. Another passenger—a mother—asked Castro to swap seats so she could sit next to her toddler. When Castro refused, the irate mother filmed a resting Castro on the flight and posted it online. Now, Castro, who has since become an influencer, is planning to sue the passenger and the airline.
The incident occurred on Dec. 4, 2024, on Rio-based GOL Airline. Castro was flying from Rio de Janeiro to Belo Horizonte, Brazil, when she found a toddler occupying her window seat. The child wanted to look out the window, but Castro claimed her seat. She recounted in a podcast, “I said, ‘This is my seat,’ and waited for him to leave. A guy across the aisle said, ‘Change with him, you sit next to the aisle and he’ll have your place.’”
It was a 50-minute flight, and the boy cried the entire time, Castro said. The mother, meanwhile, brought out her phone and filmed a resting Castro. When Castro asked if she was being filmed, the mother replied that she was recording her face and accused Castro of having no sympathy for children. In the video, as reported by the New York Post, the mother is heard saying, “I even asked if she has some kind of syndrome or something. If someone has a problem, some disability, we understand.”
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However, the stunt backfired. Online comments sided with Castro, who stayed calm during the interaction seen on camera, while the spiteful passenger continued to shame her. What was intended to embarrass Castro became her triumph, as she catapulted to social media celebrity status. Now, she has 2 million followers on Instagram, brand deals, and has even flown on a private plane.
After this roller coaster, Castro said she’s still processing what happened but also mentioned that “measures are being taken.” “What I went through wasn’t easy. The flight attendants could have asked me if I needed anything, or if I was bothered by the passenger, but they didn’t. They stayed out of it.”
Passengers can always ask another passenger to swap seats or talk to the flight attendant. But people do say no, for their own reasons or no reason at all. Ask politely and be prepared for the possibility that they don’t owe you anything, especially if you’re asking them to downgrade.
To Film or Not to Film?
There are no clear policies about using cameras on flights. People film altercations on planes, and these recordings can help investigations, but they can also be intrusive and damaging. Viral videos of meltdowns on flights can result in cyberbullying or more serious consequences. Trey Walters, CEO of Blue Line Aviation and a safety expert, told Business Insider that it can also make the situation worse on the plane. “If a flight attendant, for example, is trying to attend to a passenger that’s having an issue, having people reaching their hands out in front of that person’s face, trying to record the situation definitely creates added risk.”
Airlines have policies against using cameras on planes—don’t record crew without consent. United Airlines mentions on its website, “Taking photos and videos are allowed on your flight, but your recordings can’t interfere with crewmembers’ work and safety.” Dutch carrier KLM specifies that recording anything other than personal videos and photographs is prohibited. Qantas asks passengers to seek consent before filming crew or passengers.
Delta goes a bit further in its explanation, stating, “We recognize that capturing content is a standard part of customers’ travel experiences. However, capturing content should not interfere with the safety or security of flight, fellow customers, or our employees. We ask that you are mindful of including Delta employees in that content, and respectful in your intent.”
In short, use your discretion. Don’t film someone to embarrass them, and don’t record anyone who is sick or in a medical emergency. Follow crew instructions—if they ask you to put the camera down for safety reasons, do it. Do not invade someone’s privacy.
Related: Beware: Passengers Have Started ‘Seat-Squatting’ on Planes
