'As a Christian, I'd Be Annoyed': Passengers Slammed for Singing Church Songs for Nearly Three Hours on International Flight

Passengers on a British Airways flight who turned the journey into an impromptu 'church service' by chanting and preaching for nearly three hours have been criticised as 'inconsiderate' and 'rude'.

The incident was captured in several videos shared to TikTok by fellow traveller Maxine Munroe, who said she was onboard a London Heathrow to Jamaica flight when the group began singing and praying mid-journey.

According to a fellow passenger, Maxine Munroe, 56, the singing and preaching began around one hour into the nine-hour flight, and lasted for roughly two-and-a-half hours.

Munroe, a nurse from Croydon, uploaded the videos to the platform on 6 January, describing the experience as similar to being in church.

In one clip, a woman is seen standing in the aisle, singing loudly while waving her arms and seemingly gesturing for other passengers to clap along.

Munroe said the group continued even after the seat belt sign was switched on. Some passengers — including children — were heard telling the group to sit down and fasten their seat belts.

Despite repeated nudges from other passengers, the group continued, prompting internet users to comment on what appears to be a 'church service' in the skies.

The footage has triggered widespread debate on social media, with many users saying the chanting crossed the line from private worship into disturbance.

Online Backlash And Support Divide Viewers

'Absolutely not acceptable onboard at all.'

'They need to respect other passengers that are travelling.'

'This is so self-centred and disrespectful to everyone else on that plane'

One user said, 'I am a Christian, rooted in Christ but I would be panicking with this kind of noise. But I believe maybe he saw something in the spirit so he is preventing it through prayer.'

According to the Daily Mail, Munroe also mentioned in her post that a lot of people thought that alcohol was involved in the situation, but there was really no alcohol involved.

Some internet users applauded and were receptive to the act, 'I need this on EVERY flight going forward'.

'I love this Jesus is in the plane,' one user commented.

Some referred to the act as a 'nightmare' and 'embarrassing,' and that they would not get the chance to sleep or relax during the flight.

Several commenters said they would not object to quiet prayer or individual worship, but argued that prolonged chanting and preaching was unfair to others.

Questions Raised Over Airline Response And Onboard Conduct

It is not clear whether cabin crew intervened beyond the standard safety announcements, though the continued behaviour has prompted questions online about how such disruptions are managed on long flights.

There have been online discussions regarding the incident in previous years, before the videos surfaced on the internet. Some say that discussing religion or praying while on the plane would not bother them as long as they do it within themselves, and it is quite surprising that the airline allowed the behavior.

British Airways has not issued a public statement on the specific footage. However, airlines generally warn that passengers must follow crew instructions, especially during announcements relating to safety and seat belt signs.