You board a plane expecting turbulence from the weather, not the crew.
But an Atlanta passenger got more than just peanuts and pretzels on her recent flight when she overheard a flight attendant drop a bombshell about pilots. The casual conversation between crew members revealed an unfiltered take on the (mostly) men in the cockpit.
The comment has sparked a viral debate about what really happens behind the scenes at 30,000 feet.
Flight Attendants Call Out Pilots
In a viral video with more than 63,000 views, content creator Rachael Elizabeth (@rachaelee14) shares the surprising thing she overheard on a recent flight.
“Was on an airplane yesterday, and I overheard one of the flight attendants say something to another flight attendant,” Rachael says.
The comment caught her completely off guard.
“She said, I never trust anything that the pilots say. They lie about everything, their wives, the weather,” Rachael recounts. “Their wives?”
The casual mention of pilots lying about their spouses left Rachael stunned and confused. In her caption, she asks the question many viewers were likely thinking.
“Ummmm someone needs to fill me in. Do pilots cheat on their wives with the flight attendants???”
Are Pilot-Flight Attendant Relationships Against the Rules?
Most airlines don’t officially ban relationships between pilots and flight attendants, according to Cabin Crew 24. However, some airlines discourage relationships between different ranks to avoid conflicts of interest.
“If one person is in a leadership role, things get complicated,” the site explains, adding that some airlines don’t allow supervisors to date junior crew members.
How Common Are These Relationships, And Why Do They Happen?
Workplace relationships are more common than many people realize. According to a Techopedia report, 31% of affairs happen with coworkers.
The report notes that the likelihood of having an affair increases with one’s position on the corporate ladder—9% of non-management employees report infidelity, which more than doubles to 24% among middle management and rises to 37% for upper management.
In the aviation industry specifically, according to A Wheel in the Sky blog, workplace romance is common. “It is not at all uncommon to see flight attendants dating other flight attendants, pilots dating pilots, or FAs and pilots coming together in the name of love,” the blog states. The author notes that advice is often given to newcomers in ominous tones: “Never EVER date the pilots. But many of us have and many of us dip into our own workgroup.”
The reasons these relationships develop in aviation are practical. Crew members spend long hours together on flights and layovers, often in the same hotels. They share a unique lifestyle that people outside the industry don’t fully understand.
The demanding schedules and time away from home create a bond that can lead to romantic connections. Dating within the industry also means both partners understand the challenges of the job—irregular schedules, time apart, and the demands of the work.
However, Cabin Crew 24 reports that these relationships come with complications. The site shares stories of deception, including one of a flight attendant who discovered the pilot she was dating had a wife and kids and another who found out she was dating the same pilot as a coworker.
On the other hand, some pilots and flight attendants “meet on a flight, date for years, and eventually settle down.”
Commenters React
“As a flight attendant, no one is more single than a married Pilot,” a top comment read.
“Girl. They walk on with a wedding ring on. See the flight attendants. And then their ring is off,” a person said.
“Not all pilots are cheaters, but the ones that are cheaters are serial cheaters,” another wrote.
“Pilots, doctors, cops, lawyers… any profession where their time can’t be accounted for. Not all of course,” a commenter added.
@rachaelee14 Ummmm someone needs to fill me in. Do pilots cheat on their wives with the flight attendants??? #fyp #relationships #dating #foryoupage #foryourpage
BroBible reached out to Rachael for comment via TikTok direct message and comment.