‘Triggered a few people’: Detail in Aussie plane photo sparks huge divide

A photo of a packed, early morning flight to Sydney has caused a major stir, with some finding it “inspiring”, while others have been left “disturbed”.

A single photo taken during a flight from Brisbane to Sydney has caused a major online stir, with some Aussies branding the image “inspiring” while others found it “disturbing”.

Corporate psychologist and Compono founder and CEO Rudy Crous snapped the photo while on a recent early morning, weekday flight.

The photo shows a full row of passengers all dressed in similar-looking long-sleeve, button-up shirts, sitting straight up in their seats and facing dutifully towards the front of the plane.

Mr Crous, 43, shared the photo on LinkedIn, describing the look as “corporate battle gear”.

“Take a look — row after row of starched collars, pale blue shirts, and dark trousers. It’s almost like a uniform,” he wrote.

“Different companies. Different missions. Someone heading to pitch a new idea. Someone about to negotiate a tough deal. Someone walking into a boardroom for the first time. Someone just hoping to keep it all together.

“But we all have the same determination — to face the day, to lead, to negotiate, to solve, to win.”

The photo was taken on an early morning flight between Brisbane and Sydney. Picture: Rudy Crous/LinkedIn

Mr Crous continued the post, writing that while the passengers on the plane don’t know each other’s challenges, they will all likely return that night “a little more tired, a little more proud” and “victorious in our own way”.

The post quickly gained traction, sparking hundreds of comments and revealing a clear divide in responses.

There were those who agreed with the CEO’s assessment of what the photo represented, with some branding it “inspiring” and “uplifting”.

“This hits home. That early morning flight — half-asleep, fully committed — is familiar territory for many of us. It’s resilience in motion,” one person said.

“Everyone is out there facing their own battles which no one else is privy to. Trying to get that little bit further in whatever they are trying to achieve,” another wrote.

Others agreed that there was definitely a “corporate uniform” on display, with others joking the workers in the photo were all likely sporting brown RM Williams boots as well.

Compono CEO and founder Rudy Crous. Picture: Supplied

However, not everyone found the image to be motivating, with others branding it “strangely disturbing” and “the definition of cringe”.

“Such a depressing photo. Everyone looks the same. Where’s the individuality?” one person asked.

“You can call it ‘battle-gear’ if you like...but it SHOUTS ‘hamster-wheel’,” another said, with one branding the workers “corporate drones”.

Another person claimed the photo summed up “so much of what is wrong with corporate Australia today”.

The photo gained so much attention that it was reshared to Reddit, where users branded it “low-key dystopian”.

“You could barely make this up for a sitcom,” one added.

Speaking to news.com.au, Mr Crous said the photo was definitely up for interpretation.

“I think that was the beauty of it and that’s what I really liked about it. I definitely saw it triggered a few people,” he said.

Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, the 43-year-old used to do those early morning flights weekly and now only does them on the rare occasion.

But, what stood out to him about the scene wasn’t the “conformity” of how everyone was dressed, it was the idea that, while they may look the same, everyone has a different purpose.

“The corporate battleware that I was referring to was more about battling for their families, battling for themselves in the tough economy,” he said.

“It was also nice to see people getting out. There is nothing like in person meetings, seeing the whites of people’s eyes while sitting across from them in rooms, rather than being distracted by your devices on a Zoom call.”

Mr Crous also snapped a picture of the return flight. Picture: Rudy Crous/LinkedIn

The corporate psychologist addressed some of the comments pointing out the lack of diversity in the photo, stating that those comments, along with ones viewing the conformity in a negative light, “kind of missed the point”.

“It wasn’t about race. It wasn’t about gender, it was, again, everybody setting off to achieve what they can, to achieve their mission for themselves, their family, their future and the economy,” he said.

Mr Crous also snapped a photo of the plane during his flight home, which he once again shared online.

He noted the scene was a very different one from the morning, nothing that “after a full day of corporate sharecropping and strategic warfare, the formation looked a little thinner”.

He also pointed out there was a woman pictured in the second photo, who also sported the “blue uniform”.

“At the end of the day people love to make it about themselves, rather than necessarily read the actual post and make a comment on the post that I’ve made,” the CEO said.

“I think you can see good or bad in anything. The photo is definitely up for interpretation, and that’s what I like about it.”

Originally published as ‘Triggered a few people’: Detail in Aussie plane photo sparks huge divide