#trending: Southwest Airlines pilot threatens to cancel takeoff after man AirDrops nude photo to other passengers

HOUSTON, TEXAS — A TikTok video of a Southwest Airlines pilot is causing a stir online because he threatened to “pull back” a plane after someone sent nude pictures to other passengers on the flight.

A recording of the pilot’s announcement shared by a passenger, Ms Teighlor Marsalis, has amassed more than 3 million views since it was posted on Aug 25.

"So here's the deal,” the male pilot can be heard saying over the intercom. “If this continues while we're on the ground, I'm going to have to pull back to the gate, everybody's going to have to get off, we're going to have to get security involved and (your) vacation is going to be ruined.”

"So you folks, whatever that AirDrop thing is, quit sending naked pictures and let's get yourself to Cabo," he commanded.

The flight was about to take off for Cabo San Lucas, Mexico from the William P Hobby Airport in Houston, Texas.

In an interview with American news outlet CNN, Ms Marsalis recounted that passengers had just boarded the plane when she and the people around her received requests for files to be shared via AirDrop.

AirDrop is a file-sharing feature available only on Apple devices.

Ms Marsalis said that she had declined the file, but two women in front of her who accepted it showed her the photo.

"It was a nude man that had AirDropped himself to everyone," she told CNN.

Ms Marsalis said that a woman upset by the photos reported it to a flight attendant who then informed the pilot.

Following the pilot’s announcement, Ms Marsalis said that the flight attendant went around to check on everyone and after going through safety procedures, the flight took off without further incident.

TikTok users who commented on the video were thoroughly amused by the bizarre incident.

One top comment read: “This feels like my mum turning around in the car to me and my twin sister (to say), ‘If you (two) don’t stop, I swear to God…’”

Many agreed that the pilot spoke “like a parent” warning their children to behave and gave off “major dad vibes”.

Some questioned why the affected passengers even accepted the unsolicited AirDrop request in the first place.

One online user asked: “Why would anyone accept an AirDrop from a stranger?” 

Another cautioned: “You take that risk accepting anything (AirDropped) from strangers.”

Reactions from Android phone users were mixed. Some expressed glee and relief that their phones do not have an AirDrop function.

Others joked that they felt left out: “Us android users miss out on the fun all the time.”

However, not everybody found the situation funny.

Some TikTok users warned against cyberflashing, which is the act of sending unsolicited and explicit photos to nearby strangers. They pointed out that children may use Apple devices as well and sending obscene material to a minor, even an adult, could constitute a criminal offence.

In a statement following the incident, Southwest Airlines said that the safety, security and well-being of customers and employees “is the Southwest team's highest priority at all times. When made aware of a potential problem, our employees address issues to support the comfort of those travelling with us”.