7-10-2024 (SYDNEY) A recent Qantas flight from Sydney to Tokyo became the subject of unexpected controversy when an R-rated film was inadvertently broadcast on every screen, leaving passengers stunned and airline officials scrambling to address the situation.
The incident occurred when technical issues on the flight rendered individual movie selection unavailable. In an attempt to resolve the problem, cabin crew solicited passenger opinions on a film choice for the entire cabin. The consensus led to the selection of “Daddio”, a 2023 drama starring Dakota Johnson and Sean Penn, which ultimately proved to be an inappropriate choice for the diverse audience on board.
“Daddio”, known for its frank discussions about relationships, sex, and loss, contains scenes of explicit sexual material and graphic nudity. The film’s content, which includes visible text messages of a sexual nature, was displayed on all screens throughout the aircraft, much to the discomfort of many passengers, particularly those travelling with children.
Posts from the qantasairways
community on Reddit
One passenger, who later shared their experience on social media, described the situation as “super uncomfortable for everyone”. They reported that it was “impossible to pause, dim, or turn off” the screens, leaving travellers with little choice but to avert their eyes or endure the unsuitable content.
The airline’s staff reportedly took nearly an hour to switch to a more family-friendly film, a delay that exacerbated the awkward atmosphere on board. Images of some of the less explicit scenes were later shared online, providing evidence of the incident.
Qantas has since confirmed the occurrence and issued an apology to affected customers. A spokesperson for the airline stated, “The movie was clearly not suitable to play for the whole flight, and we sincerely apologise to customers for this experience.” The company has also announced that it is reviewing its film selection process to prevent similar incidents in the future.
