midflight

Passengers on a recent easyJet flight were guided by cabin crew through an impromptu stretching session, but beyond entertainment there is a vital reason this is becoming a common practice

Passengers on a recent easyJet flight were subject to an impromptu ‘air-robics’ class. A viral TikTok video shows a plane-full of passengers stretching their arms and touching their knees at the direction of a cabin crew member.

The TikTok video has been viewed over 2 million times and was shared with the caption: “What in the air-robics is going on, easyJet”. While the synchronised stretching may look quite odd, one expert has shared that the practice is critical while flying.

While doing yoga stretches on an airplane may sound like a hassle, it’s become quite the trend. Videos are circulating online of flight attendants leading passengers through seated yoga routines mid-flight.

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Weighing in on the movement, yoga instructor Holly Hogan says the practice supports circulation onboard and reduces nerves.

Partnering with Well Pharmacy Online Doctor, Holly Hogan, also shares expert-backed advice on in-seat yoga stretches, discreet breathing techniques, and strategies for beating jet lag to improve passenger comfort and wellbeing at 30,000 feet.

Holly says even minimal movement during long-haul travel can make a big difference. “Just five minutes of gentle stretching every couple of hours can help reduce tension in the neck, back and legs and lower the risk of circulation issues like deep vein thrombosis (DVT).”

While it’s important to stretch your legs by walking up and down the aisle, Holly says there are some beginner-friendly ways to stretch in your seat too.

“Even with limited space, there are simple yoga stretches you can do to stay comfortable and grounded. Try a seated cat-cow by gently arching your spine as you inhale and rounding your spine as you exhale. Add in some neck rolls, shoulder shrugs, and ankle circles to release tension and improve circulation.”

Holly recommends a “seated spinal twist” as well, which is not only great to ease stiffness in your back but aids with digestion. A great stretch to try after you’ve gotten through your inflight meal. Knee hugs are also great to loosen the lower back.

When you do stand up to stretch your legs or use the bathroom, there are a few other discreet poses you can attempt. “Mountain pose is a great one: just stand tall, ground your feet, and lengthen your spine,” Holly says. “A gentle forward fold can release your lower back, and calf raises are perfect for circulation. Even a standing quad stretch or lunge, if you have space, can prevent stiffness.”

For those who feel anxious while flying, Holly recommends focusing on breathing to calm down. “If you’re feeling anxious, one of my favourite techniques is box breathing: inhale for four counts, hold for four, exhale for four, and hold again for four. If you can, extending your exhale – for example, inhale for four and exhale for six or eight, will help to calm your nervous system.”

Everyone should be moving or stretching every one to two hours during a long flight, according to Holly. This includes walking the aisle, doing standing poses or just stretching while seated.

“It doesn’t have to be a full routine – just enough to keep your body from stiffening up,” she says. She also says it’s vital to combine gentle stretching with good hydration.

“Drinking water supports good circulation and prevents dehydration, while conscious breathing keeps your mind calm,” she concludes. “Add in a few stretches and a guided meditation, and you’ll land feeling much more refreshed.”

Police met the flight and six men left the plane before reaching their destination

A rowdy Brit stag do saw a plane diverted before police boarded the flight and escorted them off. The six-man group were marched off of the aircraft after it landed half way to its intended destination.

Witness Arron Davies, who was travelling with friends Mike and Scott, said two of the members on the stag do were allegedly vaping in their seats whilst drinking heavily and being abusive towards the stewards.

During the easyJet flight from London Gatwick to Marrakesh, Morocco, the men were allegedly warned six times before the staff took action. Arron, Mike and Scott, of Newport, south Wales, watched as the pilot announced that the flight would land in Faro airport, Portugal.

The diverted aircraft was greeted by eight Portuguese police officers who dealt with the group. Two men were led off whilst the other four stag do members made their way off the plane.

“The four friends were annoyed that their two mates had ruined their trip,” Arron said. “The men were vaping in their seats and toilet, drinking heavily and to my opinion already drunk or close to when boarding. They were being abusive towards staff on the flight.”

He added: “They were being loud and using a lot of bad language despite children being on the flight.” He alleged: “They were warned about six times, but every time the one man muttered when the staff walked away, making the problem worse.

“One of the men gave up and walked towards the exit when he realised how serious his actions were being taken. The other man stayed in his seat and was escorted out by up to eight police officers, four getting in the plane from either side.

“The flight steward was very good at his job dealing with this issue on the flight, he gave them many chances. I would call the guy a true asset to easyJet. His level of professionalism was on point even though a lot of abuse was aimed at him.

“He kept his composure and made me feel I was still safe even with the drama happening in front of me.”

An easyJet spokesperson said: “This flight from London Gatwick to Marrakech on 19 May diverted to Faro and was met by police upon arrival due to a group of passengers behaving disruptively onboard. Once the passengers had left the aircraft, the flight then continued to Marrakech.

“Our cabin crew are trained to assess and evaluate all situations and acted quickly and appropriately to ensure that the safety of the flight and other passengers was not compromised at any time. The safety and wellbeing of our passengers and crew is always easyJet’s priority and we do not tolerate abusive or threatening behaviour onboard.”

If you hear this word whilst you are on a flight, it might mean that one of your fellow passengers has died on board – and cabin crews have a whole host of codewords like this

Cabin crews have a lot to deal with as they take care of passengers during their flights. In addition to keeping everyone happy and well-fed, they occasionally have to deal with more major crises, but flight attendants are known to use secret codewords to ensure that they don’t panic any of the other passengers.

One phrase, in particular, can mean, if you hear it whilst travelling, that someone on the plane has sadly died – and the staff are trying to let each other know what’s going on, whilst keeping the situation under wraps from the passengers.

The code words regularly used for a death mid-flight are “Angel” or “Code 300.” These words allow discretion while the crew deals with the sad situation and ensure that no excess attention is drawn or alarm is generated amongst those on the flight.

Travel experts at Wander have put together a list of in-flight codes and phrases that passengers may encounter on a flight, but do not know what they mean. Whilst most flights go smoothly, on others there can be some issues where flight crews need to communicate with each other secretly, so as not to alert passengers.

There are a number of other in-flight codes and phrases that passengers may hear when on a flight.

If a traveller hears ‘Squawk 7500’ or ‘Hotel’, it means that a hijacking is in progress. As a passenger, if you hear this either mentioned by the flight crew or air traffic control, it signals that there is a potential security threat on the flight. Usually, the aircraft’s transponder will send a signal with this code to alert authorities that the plane is in danger.

Another alert is ‘Code Yellow’. A ‘Code Yellow’ indicates a minor medical situation, such as a passenger feeling lightheaded or nauseous. While not an emergency, it allows crew members to discreetly monitor a situation and assess whether they need any assistance.

If a serious but non-life-threatening emergency occurs while on a flight, passengers may hear ‘Peter Pan’. The phrase indicates that something is wrong onboard the flight, which could be mechanical trouble or a medical emergency, but it also signals that the flight is not in imminent danger.

‘Mermaid’ is a nickname used for a passenger who deliberately sprawls across empty seats. This behaviour is particularly common on flights with spare seats, where a passenger may stretch out to try and claim the extra space. Last year, one passenger got into an argument with another passenger over an empty seat, as she was told she wasn’t ‘allowed’ to sit in it despite nobody paying for it.

The woman needed to move seats because something was wrong with hers, and a flight attendant informed her she could move to an empty seat in the row across from her own. When she tried to sit in it, however, the woman sitting next to the empty chair told her she “wasn’t allowed”—despite nobody having booked it.

‘Code Adam’ is not used onboard planes but in airports to indicate a missing child. If an announcement is made for a ‘Code Adam’, staff will begin searching the airport while securing exits to prevent abductions. At an airport, ‘Code Bravo’ may also be used to signal a general security alert.

Finally, while ‘VIP’ is usually used to refer to a ‘Very Important Person,’ in the airline industry, it can sometimes refer to a ‘Very Irritating Passenger.’ Crew will sometimes use the code to refer to a traveller who is making excessive demands, complaining a lot, or generally being difficult without violating any specific rules.

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