A Black travel influencer reported that what should have been a straightforward 14-hour flight turned into a traumatic ordeal. The flight-mate who sat beside her — an older woman — repeatedly encroached on her space: napping on her shoulder, sprawling across her row, poking her with bare feet, and ultimately brandishing a knife in her direction. (Source: Newsweek) 

“This flight turned into a horror movie! PSA: If you lean on strangers mid-flight… don’t,” the TikToker known as @essiebtravelin wrote beneath the now-viral footage of her experience, which she posted in August. (Source: TikTok) 

In the videos she posted, she shows the older woman, seated next to her on a Qatar Airways flight from Doha to New York, repeatedly invading her seat space. For example: the woman was covered by a blanket and spread her legs into Essie’s row, leaned her head on Essie’s shoulder, and leaned forward across the row while Essie was seated in the window seat, leaving her very little personal space. (Source: Newsweek) 

At one point, the older woman attempted to kneel on the floor to nap and placed her bare feet into Essie’s foot space. Things escalated when Essie recorded the woman holding a knife-like utensil (a butter knife, according to some reports) and pointing it in Essie’s direction — which Essie interpreted as a threat. (Sources: Newsweek; BroBible) 

Essie says she asked the woman — who did not speak English — multiple times to refrain from touching her and to return to her own seat. She also called over the flight-attendant several times. After some delay, cabin crew offered the older passenger a second empty seat (the aisle seat next to her) so she could stretch out across two seats; however, in the meantime the older woman lay across both seats and again pressed her bare feet into Essie’s legs. (Source: Atlanta Black Star) 

While Essie acknowledged there may have been a language or cultural barrier that made communication difficult, she stated she did not believe the woman was entirely unaware of her actions. Instead, Essie described the passenger as “acting dumbfounded, entitled, and privileged.” (Source: Atlanta Black Star) 

Her TikTok videos quickly went viral, accumulating nearly 50 million views, with thousands of viewers expressing support for her perspective — while others offered criticism. Many cho­sed to praise the patience Essie displayed under extremely uncomfortable circumstances. (Source: Atlanta Black Star) 

One viewer commented:

“I feel like she was doing it on purpose. No matter the culture or age differences, she knew better.” (Source: Atlanta Black Star) 

Another added:

“Either she knows what she’s doing or she needs to be flying with a caregiver. The FAs can only do so much in the air but I know how frustrating that was for you.” (Source: Atlanta Black Star) 

And yet another wrote:

“Unpopular opinion: OLD PEOPLE DO NOT GET A PASS TO BE INTOLERABLE. I do not care how many wars you’ve lived through… Acting with common decency is not restricted to the young.” (Source: Atlanta Black Star) 

According to reporting, Essie told Newsweek she contacted Qatar Airways about the incident, saying the crew was aware of the situation but did not take sufficient action to ensure her safety or comfort. (Source: Newsweek) 

In short, what started as a routine long-haul economy flight turned into a sustained violation of personal space, repeated lack of consent, and an ultimately threatening moment — leaving Essie feeling unsafe and unheard in a confined cabin.