Downloading offline entertainment before boarding is standard procedure for any frequent flyer hoping to survive a long journey. But imagine if your innocent binge-watch accidentally mirrors the worst-case scenario of the exact passengers seated in your row?
For Chicago creator Via (@via.fx), a last-minute download on Netflix led to an impossible inflight coincidence. In a TikTok storytime, she details the hilarious horror of realizing her choice of in-flight drama shows the worst thing that could happen mid-air. If you still haven’t guessed, she was watching the survival series Yellowjackets.
To top off the horror, Via was allegedly seated between two real-life Team USA athletes. Co-incidentally, Yellowjackets also follows a high school soccer team stranded in the wilderness following a catastrophic plane crash. This led Via to fear that she might have “cursed her plane into crashing.”
A last-minute download turned into an ominous entertainment choice on the plane
The awkward situation began prior to departure when Via realized she had forgotten to preload entertainment for her trip. Scrolling through popular recommendations, she decided to download Yellowjackets, having heard buzz about the show without actually knowing its specific storyline.
It was only after boarding the aircraft, with no Wi-Fi available to download a replacement, that the reality of the show’s dark premise set in. Realizing Yellowjackets centers around a catastrophic aviation disaster, Via tried to shake off the ominous feeling and commit to watching it anyway.
“Yellowjackets is fully about a plane crash, and I’m watching it on a plane… But it’s fine, it’s fine. I’m like, whatever, I’m still gonna watch it, it looks like a good show, right?” But things escalated from mildly ironic to deeply uncomfortable soon. Via claimed that a 15-person delegation sporting official Team USA athletic gear boarded the cabin shortly after.
Trapped between the athletes with her screen on full display, she spent the flight terrified. She feared that her seatmates would glance over and think she was actively trying to manifest a disaster upon their travels. “I was like, ‘I cursed this plane. This is not gonna go well,'” Via recalled with a laugh.
A loud phone call after landing triggered side-eyes in the terminal
Fortunately, the flight arrived at its destination without incident. “The flight went well, I’m still here. The sports team’s still here,” Via reassured. However, the awkwardness didn’t end once the wheels touched down. While exiting through the terminal, Via allegedly answered a phone call from her mother asking about the flight.
Still walking in close proximity to the team, Via openly retold the story of her awkward watch party. But just then, she realized the athletes were well within earshot. This led her to catch immediate side-eyes from the group as she recounted the tale. “That was like one of my first celebrity encounters, and it was me almost cursing our plane with a terrible fate,” she laughed.
Via wrapped up her recap by issuing a humorous apology to Team USA for the near-curse. We’re sure she’s going to put a little research into her next inflight watchlist now on. And if you happen to board a plane with a roster of elite athletes, maybe leave survival thrillers at home.
Published: Aug 20, 2026 02:30 pm