Plane Passenger Causes Uproar by Spraying Disinfectant Mid-Flight

Things got a little too fresh on a recent Delta flight when a woman decided to mist her entire seating area with disinfectant spray, stirring a wave of coughing and side-eyes from fellow passengers.

According to a post on Reddit’s “r/delta” forum, the drama began when a traveler claimed her window seat, and the woman seated in the middle promptly reached for a spray bottle of Lysol. The poster agreed that planes aren’t exactly the Ritz when it comes to cleanliness—especially with the rise of questionable in-seat behavior these days—but the subsequent chemical cloud was apparently a few spritzes too far.

“She sprays the air, the back of the seat in front of her, and pulls down the tray table to spray it too. People all around are coughing it was so much,” the user wrote. The post quickly gained traction, with the original poster joking, “Should I bring Febreze as well?” Honestly, at this rate, someone’s going to show up with a fogging machine.

The comment section was, predictably, buzzing. Some wondered how a full bottle of Lysol made it past TSA (seriously, how?), while others worried about potential asthma attacks or just basic courtesy. One user suggested using wipes instead, since “they affect only your own space, don’t count as liquids, and you’re not disturbing the person around you.”

Other Redditors joked about donning space suits for maximum protection, while many agreed that if you’re going to sanitize, do it quickly and quietly—or even better, before everyone else boards. “I bring wipes and wipe my area. I would never spray around others. So rude. You could send someone into an asthma attack,” one said, echoing the general consensus.

When asked about its cleaning protocols, Delta Airlines emphasized that their crews already handle extensive cleaning between flights, including seats, consoles, screens, windows, and those all-important tray tables. Delta also noted that planes undergo regular deep cleans with specialized tools, both in the U.S. and abroad. So, maybe leave the heavy-duty sanitizing to the pros?

Travel industry expert Gary Leff weighed in, reminding passengers that their “zone of personal space” typically ends at their seat, and actions like spraying should be approached with discretion. He recommended using disinfectant wipes to avoid spreading odors or chemicals that could turn a cramped cabin into a live-action chemistry experiment. And for good measure, he threw in a reminder to skip bringing pungent foods onboard. Apparently, no one wants to chase Lysol with the scent of saucy ribs at 30,000 feet.