When travelers boarded a delayed Delta flight hoping to reach Orlando, few could have predicted that their patience would be tested not just by air traffic, but by an impromptu concert held at 35,000 feet.
According to a since-deleted Reddit post by user Plane-Cloud-5837, passengers were “held hostage” by a young girl who took command of the in-flight public address (PA) system to sing the entire soundtrack of “Moana” during a four-hour ordeal, including a two-hour delay and a lengthy circle over Orlando.
The child didn’t stop at one chorus of “How Far I’ll Go.” According to one Reddit user, “Apparently it cut off when her brother started on the drums.”
Another commented, “SHUT UP. NO THERE’S NO WAY IT GOT WORSE. STOP.”
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A Delta spokesperson told Newsweek in the viral aftermath: “We appreciate the customer sharing her talents and apologize to our customers for the delay in their travels.”
While a few passengers may have indulged the moment as harmless or even charming, the prevailing mood on Reddit was of disbelief.
As one parent remarked, “I love my child, but not everything special to me is enjoyable for everybody else.
“Putting your child’s voice over the flight’s PA system is more of a personal indulgence rather than a shared joy.”
‘Quit screwing around’
More than a few critics expressed their dismay, such as one person who said the episode should never have been allowed to happen.
“Quit screwing around on planes,” the person said, adding, “Stop promoting this behavior and shut it down.”
The situation touched a nerve among frequent flyers, who often find themselves captive to less-than-considerate behavior in tight quarters.
As Newsweek reported in a June 2024 article, a YouGov poll revealed that 80% of Americans find it unacceptable for children to play in the aisles, ranking higher in disapproval than seat-reclining, eating pungent foods, or even mid-flight intoxication.
Notably, the same poll showed that passengers taking their shoes off or watching videos without headphones were less divisive than letting children roam, or make noise unchecked.
Airplane etiquette, especially regarding traveling with children, continues to fuel debate online.
In Booking.com’s April 2025 guide to in-flight dos and don’ts, air travelers are advised to prepare kids with headphones, entertainment and snacks—advice not fully followed by those aboard the Delta flight.
The guide warns that even minor disturbances become magnified in the air, stating, “Tensions are often heightened on airplanes,” and, “Being considerate of other passengers around you helps to avoid any potential conflict that could make for an uncomfortable journey.”
What caused the child to take over the intercom and whether the crew had permitted the performance remain unclear, though users speculated about leniency or indulgence.
The viral TikTok video of the incident, while gaining traction elsewhere, only added to the frustration expressed by those in the thread.
For the unlucky passengers, the flight may be remembered less for its destination and more for its unexpected soundtrack—one that prompted more than a few to imagine the emergency exits not as safety features, but as potential escape routes.
Newsweek has contacted Plane-Cloud-5837 for comment via Reddit.
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