A funny TikTok video captures a woman’s “shocked” expression when a man starts clapping on their flight. The clip, shared by @jasonbooye, has garnered 1.6 million views since June 3rd, hinting it was filmed on a Spirit Airlines flight.
The footage shows a smiling woman on the plane, leaning forward as the man next to her begins slow clapping. She looks wide-eyed as others join in.
Why do people clap at the end of a flight?
The tradition of clapping upon landing dates back to at least 1970. Airline pilot Patrick Smith, author of “Cockpit Confidential,” mentioned that the act is common, often seen as a gesture in economy class flights where passengers spend hours together.
Smith views the applause not as a critique of the landing but as a collective celebration of their shared experience during the flight.
‘Priceless’
Many TikTok users found the video hilarious. Comments range from calling the woman’s reaction “priceless” to others being mortified or amused by it.
One user even joked about applauding as a form of congratulating their survival after a flight.