Passenger stunned after flight attendant cites ‘unwritten’ rule mid-flight — and even the TSA disagrees: ‘condescending’
She thought the crewmember was a real knit-wit.
An airline passenger named Brittany was flabbergasted after a crewmember told her to stop knitting even though it didn’t violate any aviation rules. A video detailing the flight attendant’s alleged fabric-ated regulation currently boasts over 500,000 views on TikTok.
“Was hoping to finish knitting my sock on this flight but guess it will have to wait,” the knitting influencer — who goes by @brittsstitches — captioned the clip of the incident, which occurred on an unspecified flight.
In the overlaid text, Brittany recalled how the sock-block told her to stow her knitting gear mid-stocking after urging her to consider whether she’d “want to be holding needles if there was an emergency” (presumably turbulence).
The accompanying footage shows the flyer’s unfinished project sitting in “knitting jail” in the bag beneath her seat as sad music plays in the background.
The incident split internet viewers with some accusing the mile-high hall monitor of embarking on a power trip. “What? I knit on every flight. I would be so annoyed,” said one defender, while another wrote, “By that logic, no one should have anything in their hands during an emergency.”
“Ask her when she’s collecting pens and styluses from other passengers,” quipped a third.
However, some viewers flocked to the flight attendant’s defense with one writing, “I don’t think she was trying to be rude. If the plane jerks too hard and you’re holding NEEDLES near your face … you might have a worse day than everyone else on that plane.”
However, Brittany pointed out in the comments that “knitting needles are allowed via TSA’s website,” but said she didn’t want to force the issue.
“If she wasn’t comfortable with the needles, that’s fine, but I didn’t appreciate her condescending approach,” Brittany wrote (perhaps she was worried that snitches get stitches).
According to the TSA site, knitting needles are permitted in both carry-on and checked luggage.
However, they note that any “sharp objects in checked bags should be sheathed or securely wrapped to prevent injury to baggage handlers and inspectors.”
That being said, the experts at the View From the Wing believed that the crew member’s concern wasn’t totally unfounded even though they disagreed with her demand.
“For reasons similar to a requirement to stow laptops and other bulky items during takeoff and landing, having needles out during crucial times during flight presents a risk,” wrote contributor Gary Leff. “In truth, there’s potential risk at all times (laptops or needles could both become projectiles in severe turbulence) however, we weigh the likelihood of that risk against inconvenience.”
He added, “Ultimately, we don’t ban everyday items simply because they have nonzero potential for harm.”
To illustrate his point, Leff shared social media photos depicting a female passenger embroidering inflight and another stitching clothing with a sewing machine.
“Sewing machines, I think, would be [a] greater risk than sewing needles,” he warned. “Make sure to stow those for takeoff and landing!”
