A man waiting at an airport boarding gate questioned why so many passengers rush to stand in long queues even before boarding begins, saying the habit reflects a deeper sense of anxiety rather than necessity.

The video was shared by Instagram user Shresth Ojha, who recorded his observations while waiting to board his flight.

In the clip, Ojha panned the camera towards a long queue of passengers already lined up at the boarding gate before turning it towards himself. Looking at the crowd, he wondered why so many people felt the need to stand in line when boarding had not even been announced.

"Just have a look at this queue. What are Indians so afraid of? I am at the airport, and no one is going anywhere until the boarding announcement is made, so why does everyone look so anxious?" he said.

He went on to point out that every passenger had already paid for their ticket and had an assigned seat, making the rush seem unnecessary. According to him, people often behave as though someone might take their seat or that the aircraft would leave without them if they were not among the first in line.

Ojha clarified that he was not trying to mock or make fun of anyone. Instead, he felt the behaviour reflected a deeper mindset where people constantly remained on guard, worrying that they might lose out if they were not proactive.

Wrapping up the video, Ojha said he hoped people would feel more comfortable relaxing at airports instead of creating unnecessary urgency for themselves and others. The clip was shared with the caption, "Relax guys, chill out."

Watch the video here:

The video sparked a debate online. While many users agreed that overcrowding at boarding gates often stems from a fear of being left behind in a densely populated country, others argued that first-time flyers or infrequent travellers may simply worry about missing their flight.

Several people also disagreed with Ojha's observation altogether, saying the tendency to queue early is common at airports across the world and is not unique to India.

- Ends

Published By:

Yashna Talwar

Published On:

Jul 22, 2026 13:54 IST