A woman’s relaxing flight turned into a surreal experience when she woke up to find herself completely alone on a dark, silent airplane — hours after everyone else had disembarked.
According to reports, the woman, identified only as Tiffani, was traveling on a long-haul flight in business class. Exhausted from a busy week, she reclined her seat, put on headphones, and fell into a deep sleep shortly after takeoff. When she opened her eyes again, the plane was pitch black — and eerily quiet.
“I thought I was dreaming,” she said. “There were no lights, no announcements, and not a single person in sight. My first thought was that it must be a prank.”
After realizing that the aircraft was completely still and parked on the tarmac, panic set in. She called out, hoping someone from the crew was still onboard. When there was no answer, she grabbed her phone to use the flashlight feature, only to find her battery was almost dead.
She began walking through the empty cabin, calling for help and recording short clips for proof. “I didn’t want anyone to think I made it up,” she said. “It was terrifying — just me, alone on a plane, in total darkness.”
Eventually, she reached the main exit door but discovered it was locked. After several minutes of trying to find a way out, she managed to flag down a ground crew worker by flashing a small reading light from inside. The stunned staff member helped her exit safely and escorted her into the terminal, where the airline later apologized for the oversight.
The airline confirmed the incident, stating that an “unintentional procedural error” had led to the passenger being missed during disembarkation. “We are deeply sorry for the experience our customer had,” the airline said in a statement. “Safety and care are our top priorities, and we are reviewing how this happened to ensure it never occurs again.”
Since sharing her story online, Tiffani’s post has gone viral — sparking both disbelief and humor from viewers around the world. “Imagine waking up and thinking you’re in a post-apocalyptic movie,” one commenter joked. Another added, “She literally had her own private jet for free.”
However, aviation experts say such incidents, while extremely rare, can happen when passengers are in deep sleep and missed during cabin checks. “Crew members are required to inspect every row before exiting,” said one former flight attendant. “But on late-night flights, it’s easier to overlook someone wrapped in blankets, especially if the lighting is dim.”
Though shaken, Tiffani says she’s taking the bizarre event in stride — even laughing about it now. “At least I can say I once had an entire airplane to myself,” she joked.
Would you find it terrifying or kind of peaceful to wake up completely alone on a plane?
