Woman Wakes Up on Plane, Can't Believe Who Is Sitting Next to Her
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
A video capturing a passenger's reaction after recognizing her seat neighbor has gone viral on TikTok.
The clip was shared by the passenger's daughter @ava___blackwell and has amassed over 945,000 views since it was posted on May 8.
Text overlaid on the clip says: "POV [point of view]: I'm moving across the country but my dad just got knee surgery and wasn't supposed to be flying to help me move."
The video shows a woman sleeping in the window seat of the plane, with a man seated next to her.
The on-screen text continues "but we surprised my mom and sneaked him onto the trip," as the man is shown leaning over and saying something to the woman, who is startled awake.
The woman looks shocked upon waking up, glancing between the camera and her husband, before she later holds her hands up to her face, appearing to be moved to tears.
A caption shared with the post says: "we schemed all week, I have no idea how we pulled this off."
As heartwarming as the moment in the viral clip is, traveling after surgery comes with health risks, warns the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The CDC advises that "travel after surgery further increases the risk of developing blood clots" as it can require patients to remain seated for long periods while in a "hypercoagulable state," which is a state of having an increased tendency for blood clots.
"Traveling during the post-operative or post-procedure recovery period or while being treated for a medical condition could pose additional risks for patients," the CDC says. "Air travel and surgery independently increase the risk for blood clots, including deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary emboli."
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) occurs when a blood clot develops in the deep veins, typically in the lower extremities, while a pulmonary embolism occurs when "a part of the DVT clot breaks off and travels to the lungs, which can be life-threatening," the CDC notes.
The viral video comes as international family travel was reported to be making a strong comeback in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era, according to the 2023 U.S. Family Travel Survey conducted by the Family Travel Association, in partnership with the NYU School of Professional Studies, Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality and Edinburgh Napier University.
The study, which surveyed over 3,300 parents and grandparents in the U.S. about their travel plans, behaviors and attitudes, found that more than three-quarters (81 percent) of parents in the U.S. said they were likely to travel with their children in 2024.
Large family groups were found to be a big contributor to the market growth, with more than 50 percent of parents saying they're planning to travel with grandparents and children, the survey showed.
Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via TikTok. This video has not been independently verified.
A stock image of a woman shown sleeping with a neck pillow while sitting in a window seat on a plane.
A stock image of a woman shown sleeping with a neck pillow while sitting in a window seat on a plane.
iStock / Getty Images Plus
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