Pilot Threatens To Turn Plane Around As Passenger AirDrops Unsolicited Nudes On Flight

A Southwest Airlines pilot was faced with an unusual hiccup while flying a plane to Mexico -- a passenger sharing unsolicited nudes with fellow passengers.

Prior to takeoff, one of the passengers brought the issue to a crew member's notice on the Aug. 25 flight headed to Cabo San Lucas.

When the pilot was made aware, he took it upon himself to reestablish decency on board by threatening to turn the flight around and contact security if the unnamed passenger continued to share unwelcome nudes with other passengers, New York Post reported.

"So here's the deal," the pilot announced over the intercom. "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."

They were reportedly using the AirDrop feature on Apple phones that allows users to share files without the need for WiFi or cellular data.

"Whatever that AirDrop thing is — quit sending naked pictures, let's get yourself to Cabo," the pilot said.

A passenger, Marsalis, who shared a video of the announcement on TikTok said the pilot's response to the situation was warranted, as reported by Insider.

Southwest Airlines stated their top priorities were the "safety, security, and well-being" of their passengers and personnel. When notified of a potential issue, the airlines said their staff members take action to ensure the comfort of individuals who are traveling with them.

Surprised by the incident, many social media users commented on the video. One user said, "Pilot had 'Don't make me turn this plane around' energy Love it!"

A growing number of people are reportedly using AirDrop to send anonymous, inappropriate, and unwelcome photos to strangers. Malicious users can take advantage of the iOS feature to share digital files without consent on Apple devices, Vice reported.

Before the recipients can click to accept, a preview of the image will appear on screens of the recipients, which means they have no control over viewing or ignoring unsolicited nudes. These appear on the phone as a flash message, without any prior notice.

The alarming component of the AirDrop feature is the lack of consent. The act of sending unsolicited nude photos to strangers, or cyberflashing, is considered a criminal offense in Texas since 2019.