Harlem Shake Craze Goes Airborn

Nicole Jelinek, Entertainment Editor
March 4, 2013

In the suddenly popular YouTube videos, one person starts dancing, then the video cuts to a large group of people dancing, many in costume. What is this new craze? It is called the Harlem Shake.

This video idea is popping up all over. We have even seen one done on our very own Seneca Says, but the latest incarnation of the “Harlem Shake” video fad was recorded on board a Frontier Airlines flight, and now has the attention of federal investigators.

The video itself already has been viewed 400,000 times on Youtube and keeps going up. The video was recorded by members of the Colorado College Ultimate Frisbee Team, who were on their way to a tournament in San Diego over President’s Day weekend.
According to an article from ABC News, “A spokesman with the Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the agency has opened an investigation into the video, which starts with a signature lone dancer in the aisle of the plane. As the beat rises to a crescendo, most of the plane’s passengers appear to join the frenetic dance, including a guy dressed as a banana and another person wearing an Abraham Lincoln mask.”

When Matt Selin, a member of the Frisbee team was asked about the video and investigation he stated, “Obviously, I hope that this whole situation is solved with the FAA. I don’t see there being any reason why this should cause any trouble. We asked the staff and they said it was safe.”

When federal officials were question about why the investigation started, they said that the video “looked bad” for flight image.

The video itself did not happen without “permission,”  interfere with any of flight precautions, nor did it delay the plane from anything. However, if the video was recorded against the wishes of the Frontier flight attendants, the official said, the passengers could be charged with interfering with a flight crew.

According to ABC News, Leslie Weddell, a Colorado College spokesperson, reported “[The students] definitely had permission from the crew.”

A Frontier Airlines spokeswoman Kate O’Malley would not comment on whether the flight crew was complicit in the making of the video.

Aviation experts commented on this investigation saying that the dancing also, likely had no affect on the structural integrity of the aircraft, which are built to endure severe turbulence, but no other word on the investigation has been released  yet.