Arizona Flight Attendant Says Passenger Secretly Took Her Photo in First Class and Texted It: ‘I Deserve to Feel Comfortable at Work’
ARIZONA – A flight attendant from Arizona says she was left shaken and uncomfortable after discovering a passenger had secretly photographed her during a first-class safety demonstration, then shared the picture in a text message thread visible on his phone. The incident, she says, is one of many similar encounters she has experienced while working in the air.
Flight Attendant Noticed Her Photo on Passenger’s Screen
Danika, who posts online under the name @flywithdanika, said she was serving pre-departure drinks when she noticed a man holding his phone at an odd angle. During the safety demonstration, she confirmed her suspicions.
She says she turned her head and saw a large, full-screen image of herself on the passenger’s phone. Moments later, she saw the same passenger text the photo to a friend, along with messages she could partially read due to the man’s enlarged font size.
“It just makes me so uncomfortable,” she said. “I’m in a workplace. I like to provide good service. And now I just feel uncomfortable.”
A Growing Problem She Says Happens Often
Danika said this wasn’t the first time it happened and admitted she still isn’t sure how to handle such violations. Working in first class, she says, increases the likelihood of unwanted photography because of close proximity and visibility.
“I like to introduce myself and talk to passengers. But when you’re taking photos of me in compromising situations, it’s really uncomfortable,” she said. “Now I just don’t feel comfortable in the workplace.”
Confronting Someone at 35,000 Feet Comes With Risks
Unlike most service jobs, Danika notes that flight attendants can’t simply walk away or ask someone to leave.
“It’s not like a bar where you can say, ‘Hey, get out of here.’ We’re stuck on a plane,” she said.
Other crew members have offered to step in, but Danika fears the aftermath of confrontation.
“If I ask them to delete it, I still have to serve them for the next two hours,” she explained. “I don’t want them to keep the photos, but I also don’t know if confrontation is the right choice.”
@flywithdanika How would you handle this? :/ #flightattendant #cabincrew #advice #flightattendantlife #aviation
Industry-Wide Harassment Issues in the Skies
Her experience highlights a broader problem. According to the Association of Flight Attendants:
- Nearly 1 in 5 flight attendants report experiencing sexual assault
- 70% say they have been sexually harassed in the air
- Many say airlines provide little to no guidance on handling sexual misconduct
The FBI has also documented a rise in mid-air sexual assault cases, with reported incidents increasing from 38 in 2014 to 63 in 2017. Experts say true numbers are likely much higher.
Despite comprehensive training for severe emergencies, many attendants told NPR they receive almost no training on dealing with harassment or inappropriate passenger behavior.
What Other Flight Attendants Say
Many flight attendants responding to Danika’s video expressed frustration that airlines fail to enforce stronger policies. Some said they have confronted passengers directly, while others echoed Danika’s fear of retaliation or awkwardness mid-flight.
One commenter wrote, “It’s a violation. There should be protections. Passengers shouldn’t be allowed to film crew members without consent.”
Another former flight attendant added that she often had to confront passengers when situations crossed boundaries, saying it was “completely necessary” but rarely supported by airline management.
Ongoing Conversations About Safety and Boundaries
Danika says she simply wants what every employee deserves: a safe workplace. “I should be able to do my job without people being creepy and weird,” she said.
As her video continues to spread, it has reignited a conversation about passenger conduct, airline policies, and the need for clearer protections for flight crews who spend their workdays in confined, high-stress environments.
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