Some of the most talked-about moments on social media are not planned. A recent video from Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport has become one such story, after a content creator spotted a first-time flyer struggling to take a selfie before boarding — and stepped in to help.
The clip was posted on Instagram by Bengaluru-based content creator Rayaz, according to coverage of the video. In it, Rayaz notices a man standing on the air bridge trying to take a selfie before getting on the flight. He walks up, offers to take the picture instead, and asks the passenger to stand at a different spot so the aircraft can be seen in the background. He clicks a few photos, returns the phone, and the passenger smiles.
A small gesture, a lasting memory
For a first-time flyer, everything about an airport is new: the air bridge, the aircraft outside the window, the feeling of a journey about to begin. A selfie in that moment is not vanity — it is a way of marking a first. Rayaz’s intervention took a few seconds and turned an awkward solo attempt into a photograph the passenger will probably keep.
Alongside the video, Rayaz wrote about his Delhi diaries and encouraged people to be the reason behind someone’s smile, a message that reflected the interaction shown in the clip. The response has been warm, with many social media users praising the thoughtful act. One commenter who identified as a flight attendant wrote that they loved the moment.
A note on what is verified
Coverage of the clip carries an important disclaimer: the account is based on a viral social media post, and the Times of India, whose reporting is referenced in the coverage, has not independently verified the video. That does not make the moment false — the clip itself is visible — but it does mean details such as the passenger’s first-flight status rest on the creator’s account rather than independent confirmation.
Even with that caveat, the core of the story is visible in the footage: a stranger noticed someone struggling, offered help without being asked, and made a small moment better. Airports are full of people in a hurry. This one slowed down, and viewers noticed.
