‘Do better’: American Airlines passengers listen in horror while pilot announces 41 people have to leave the plane

A recent American Airlines flight became a nightmare when the pilot announced that 41 people had to be removed from the plane because the aircraft was too heavy. This wasn’t a normal overbooked flight situation. It was a serious weight problem that left passengers shocked and scared.

TikTok user Keara and her partner were already seated on the plane, which was supposed to leave from the Dominican Republic. They had to sit and listen as names were read over the intercom, deciding who would be left behind. Keara wrote in her video that they were “Listening to see if we were 1 of 41 people who American selected to leave the plane because it was too heavy.” 

She compared the stressful situation to being in The Hunger Games. Keara later criticized the airline in her TikTok caption, saying “Do better @American Airlines.” She added in a comment that the whole thing was a real “f— show,” and the flight was eventually sent to Miami instead.

Airlines rarely remove this many passengers for weight issues

While removing 41 passengers is very unusual, airlines sometimes have to remove people to make sure the weight is distributed properly. Every aircraft has a Maximum Takeoff Mass (MTOM), which is the heaviest weight the manufacturer says the plane can safely be before takeoff.

Usually, this isn’t a problem because airlines use standard estimates for passenger and cargo weight, which normally keeps the plane under the MTOM limit. However, the captain has the final say. If they decide that things like extra cargo, unexpected passenger weight, or certain weather conditions affect the plane’s performance, they might decide the plane is too heavy to fly safely. Just like how a mechanic had to wait days for a crucial car part, passengers faced their own frustrating delay situation.

Keara said the airline’s method for removal was completely “random,” which sounds very stressful and unfair. However, airlines typically have a specific order for deciding who gets removed. First, they ask for volunteers and often offer good compensation. Reports from 2022 showed passengers being offered huge amounts, like $10,000, just to take a later flight. 

If not enough volunteers come forward, they usually move on to “non-revenue” passengers, or “non-revs.” These are people flying for free, like retired staff or family members of employees. The situation reminds travelers that neglecting important tasks can lead to problems, much like waiting three years for an oil change.

After that, policies are different for each airline, but some airlines, like American, might remove passengers in reverse check-in order. That means if you checked in late, you’re more likely to be asked to leave than someone who checked in right away. However, airlines can change these rules based on their own judgment.