Two injured women feared a cramped flight when a stranger sat in their four-seat row — what she did next left them in tears
Passenger camaraderie is not the first thing a flyer expects on a flight. However, once in a while, the tables do turn and quietly restore our faith in humanity. The same happened to a flight passenger, Linzey Strommen (@linzeyisamom), who was traveling to Copenhagen from Los Angeles while recovering from an intense surgery. She wanted an empty row, but it was soon filled by another woman with an injury, too, and another old woman. As reported by PEOPLE on April 10, 2026, she expected to endure the cramped space. But what unfolded next was far more comforting than the extra space she had hoped for.
After a full tailbone removal surgery due to an injury, the 40-year-old hoped she could have an empty row. But soon, the seat beside her was taken by another woman dealing with a knee injury of her own. Just as they settled into that plan, a third passenger, an older woman, joined them. At first, it seemed like any hope of comfort had disappeared. Instead, she turned out to be the very reason the flight felt manageable. Noticing the other injured woman’s discomfort, she gently asked her to keep her leg elevated and began a 30-plus-minute reflexology massage. This was a level of care neither of them had expected from a stranger.
What stood out even more was how the three women, all from completely different backgrounds and having never met before, made sure each of them was as comfortable as possible. In a situation where it would have been easy to focus only on their own pain, they chose to look out for one another instead. As Strommen later shared, it was something worth capturing, because this kind of humanity, especially among strangers on a long journey, isn’t something you come across every day. She ended up sharing the video on TikTok on January 12, 2026, and it has since gone viral, gaining 2 million views.
The comment section was a mix of reactions, as expected, with some having an issue with strangers touching other strangers' feet, or the fact that the creator thought she had an entire row when she didn't pay for it. But overall, the response was positive, and Strommen also told people that she is mainly focusing on those who appreciated the kind older woman.
For example, @db_sa_86 expressed, "The world is healing. One good deed at a time," and @orignal_wildcatnv remarked, "This is what humanity is about and what we should strive for." Some even shared that their own parents would have done the same, which made the moment feel more personal. @meshelly3 mentioned, "This is something I can totally see my mom doing. Love this." Encounters like these leave behind a quiet reminder that even brief moments with strangers can restore faith in people.
For more such videos, you can follow @linzeyisamom on TikTok