A Frontier Airlines flight descended into chaos and farce when passengers were urged to 'snitch' on their fellow travellers after a foul-smelling object was discovered prior to departure. The bizarre incident, which led to a lengthy delay and the eventual cancellation of the flight, was captured on video by passenger Mark Sun and has since gone viral.
The Plea to Passengers: 'Snitch on Your Neighbour'
The ordeal began on the evening of December 7 at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Passengers on Frontier Airlines flight, scheduled to depart for Chicago around 6.30pm, were settling in when an announcement cut through the cabin. A female crew member's voice was first heard stating, 'Someone in here has a dog,' suggesting the source of an unpleasant smell was 'in the front, when you guys board.'
The situation escalated when another staff member addressed the plane with a much more direct ultimatum. 'Listen folks, we are not leaving until we find what we're looking for,' she declared. Her call to action left little room for ambiguity: 'If you think it's your neighbour, go ahead and snitch on them.' The unusual request was met with a mixture of chatter and laughter from the bemused passengers.
Hours of Delay and a Mysterious Clean-Up
Despite the appeal for informants, the flight remained grounded. In a follow-up TikTok video, Mark Sun revealed that excrement was eventually discovered on the carpet in the corridor of the jet bridge, leading staff to initially assume a pet was responsible. However, he later claimed there was never an animal on the plane at all.
Sun alleged that after holding passengers for over an hour, the airline stopped mentioning pets and instead cited mechanical issues. 'They were waiting for a mechanic to come fix the plane. Blah, blah, blah,' he said. The delay stretched on until approximately 11pm, at which point matters came to a head.
The pilot had reached his legal limit for duty time due to the extensive delay. Consequently, all passengers were instructed to deplane. Sun claimed those not from Los Angeles were told to book hotels, while locals had to 'go home and come back' for a rescheduled flight.
Aftermath and Lingering Questions
Mark Sun received a full refund from Frontier and booked a new ticket with American Airlines for the following morning. Reflecting on the incident, he questioned the security and boarding processes. 'If someone is bringing a pet undeclared and they board it onto the plane without any of the flight crew knowing about it, I think there's something wrong with either the crew or TSA,' he stated.
He also noted that as they left, he saw the mess on the jet bridge 'got covered up with some type of sand or something like that.' The nature of the waste was never officially explained, leaving passengers with only their suspicions. The Daily Mail has contacted both Frontier Airlines and Los Angeles International Airport for comment.
The key facts of the incident are:
- Airline: Frontier Airlines
- Route: Los Angeles (LAX) to Chicago
- Scheduled Departure: 7 December, around 6.30pm
- Key Passenger: Mark Sun, who recorded the events
- Outcome: Flight cancelled, passengers deplaned around 11pm, pilot out of legal duty time.
