A plane passenger has stirred a heated debate online after sharing a now-viral video of herself making gnocchi from scratch during a flight at 30,000 feet.

Katie Brooks, a pasta enthusiast and culinary instructor from San Diego, filmed herself mixing flour and water in a bowl at her seat to create fresh pasta dough. In the video, which has amassed over 8.1 million views, Brooks is seen rolling the dough into strips, cutting it into small pieces, and shaping them using a gnocchi board — all while calmly seated in economy class.

Overlaying the video with the caption, “POV: You hate aeroplane food so you make it yourself,” Brooks cheekily added in the description, “Anyone else?”

Brooks, who regularly runs pasta-making classes and workshops, revealed the finished product in a final clip: a plate of freshly made gnocchi — though it is unclear whether she cooked or ate it on board.

Internet split over in-flight pasta

The video quickly sparked debate across social media platforms, with thousands of users either praising Brooks’ creativity or questioning the practicality and potential risks of her culinary stunt in such a confined public space.

One concerned user commented:

“As a mum of a child with an anaphylactic allergy to wheat, I’m shocked. Please don’t do this in an aeroplane where people are contained in a small vessel, air is circulated, and the nearest hospital is hours away.”

Another viewer highlighted what they felt was a double standard, writing:

“God forbid an Indian did the same — the comment section would’ve gone crazy. The double standards!”

Not all reactions were negative. Some praised her multitasking and skills:

“Some do it for the views. Some do it to show you how easy it can be. You did it for both. I love it.”

While many admired her dedication to fresh food, others questioned whether preparing raw dough in an aircraft cabin could pose hygiene or safety concerns, particularly in a shared, enclosed environment where allergy risks are a serious consideration.