Flying might be the safest way to travel, but it’s certainly not without its fair share of drama. Delayed flights are bad enough, but imagine sitting on a grounded plane because someone spilled rice in the aisle. That’s exactly what happened on a SouthWest Airlines flight, and the internet can’t stop laughing—or debating—about it.
This saga, hilariously dubbed “#RiceGate,” was live-tweeted by passenger Jennifer Schaper. Her first update set the stage:
“Just boarded the plane, and somebody spilled food. The flight attendant screamed, ‘Who spilled rice?’ and is walking up and down the aisles. They are refusing to leave the gate until someone cleans the rice.”
Because my travels seem to involve unintentional comedy:
— Jennifer Schaper (@jenschap) April 15, 2023
Just boarded the plane and somebody spilled food. The flight attendant screamed “who spilled rice?” and is walking up and down the aisles. They are refusing to leave the gate until someone cleans the rice. pic.twitter.com/f5SfdjZcGr
Accompanied by a photo of the rogue rice scattered across the aisle, the post quickly gained attention. The mess was no small thing, and neither was the flight attendant’s reaction. Refusing to let the plane take off until the culprit cleaned it up, the attendant’s stance divided opinions both onboard and online.
For Jennifer and her rowmates, the absurdity of the situation turned into a fit of giggles. “The people in my row and I now have the giggles, and she’s looking at us suspiciously,” Jennifer tweeted.
Update: Rice is getting cleaned but she is MAD. She has let us all know that we were not raised right and she is disappointed in all of us. #RiceGate. pic.twitter.com/VujnL8tmZx
— Jennifer Schaper (@jenschap) April 15, 2023
But the comedy didn’t end there. Even after the rice was finally cleaned, the flight couldn’t take off because another passenger had decided it was the perfect time to visit the restroom. “Rice is cleaned,” Jennifer updated, “but another loud, angry woman went to the bathroom during #RiceGate, and we still can’t take off because she’s not at her seat. My rowmates have nicknamed this flight the Voyage of the Damned.”
The delays didn’t stop at the gate either. Once airborne, the turbulence meant no beverage service, though Jennifer joked it was more of a punishment for the earlier chaos.
Update: they are still refusing to leave until the rice has been cleaned. They are sending out for a broom. #RiceGate pic.twitter.com/2H8fIQwdsh
— Jennifer Schaper (@jenschap) April 15, 2023
Online, opinions were split. Some people rallied behind the flight attendant, arguing that their job isn’t to clean up after passengers. “Flight attendants are not housekeeping staff,” one person wrote. “They’re there for your safety. You wouldn’t mock them during an emergency!”
Others thought the situation was handled poorly. “How would anyone clean it up?” one critic asked. “No way would I get on my hands and knees on a plane to clean that. Get a broom and move on!”
Jennifer herself chimed in with a balanced take. While she believed the person who spilled the rice should have cleaned it up, she also felt the flight attendant’s reaction escalated the situation unnecessarily.
In the end, #RiceGate left passengers grounded, giggling, and debating. So, who’s to blame—the passenger with the rice, the flight attendant, or the chaos of modern air travel? Let us know what you think—and share this story with a friend who needs a laugh!
