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Coca-Cola, Delta Feel Need To Apologize After Airplane Napkins Encourage Flirting

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Coca-Cola and Delta felt the need to apologize Thursday after giving airline passengers Diet Coke-branded napkins that encouraged them to exchange phone numbers.

The front of the napkin read, “Because you are on a plane full of interesting people and hey … you never know,” according to CBS News. The flip side read, “Be a little old school. Write down your number and give it your plane crush. You never know …” with blanks for name and phone number.

Delta and Coke apologize for napkins encouraging passengers to shoot their shot with a “plane crush.” https://t.co/yHPe3lwSTB pic.twitter.com/hDYUneEfm9

— Complex (@Complex) February 7, 2019

Both companies apologized after some people took to social media to complain about the napkins.

“We worked with our partners at Delta to begin removing the napkins last month and are replacing them with other designs,” Coca-Cola said after “sincerely” apologizing, according to CBS News.

“We rotate Coke products regularly on our aircraft as part of our brand partnership, but missed the mark with this one. We are sorry for that and began removing the napkins from our aircraft in January,” wrote Delta according to CBS News. (RELATED: Ivanka Trump Reveals What ‘Infuriated’ Her About Ivanka Vacuuming Art Exhibit)

“If someone gave me a Diet Coke napkin with their name and number on an airplane I couldn’t get out of, I would ask to turn the plane around. That’s like a horror movie,” wrote a Twitter user named Andrew Jara on Thursday.

If someone gave me a Diet Coke napkin with their name and number on an airplane I couldn’t get out of, I would ask to turn the plane around. That’s like a horror movie

— Andrew Jara (@Jara_Films) February 7, 2019

Others summed up their feelings more concisely.

Passengers sit on a plane. Shutterstock image via user Matej Kastelic

“Fail,” NJ.com journalist Kevin Shea wrote on Twitter with a link to an article about the “airplane hookup napkin” apologies Thursday.

Fail https://t.co/aQQVKhtLQt

— Kevin Shea (@kevintshea) February 8, 2019

Other social media users found the napkins harmless or even cute.

“I think that the napkin idea was cute! Sorry people are nuts,” user Katie Olsen wrote Friday.

I think that the napkin idea was cute! Sorry people are nuts. #Delta #Coke #CuteNapkin

— Katie Olsen (@sparklemonkey45) February 8, 2019

“This Diet Coke Delta napkin is totally fine. not creepy at all, this is how people exchange phone numbers. [B]ut if you want to spend your life alone, that’s your choice, and that’s fine too,” user Edu de la Herran wrote Friday.

This @DietCoke @Delta napkin is totally fine. not creepy at all, this is how people exchange phone numbers. but if you want to spend your life alone, that’s your choice, and that’s fine too. https://t.co/MgQYuk28j8

— edu de la herran (@EduHerran) February 8, 2019

But some Twitter users found the controversy an opportunity to crack a joke.

“Delta and Coke should absolutely be ashamed of this napkin. Telling passengers that their planes are full of interesting people? Bald faced lie,” wrote Twitter user Justin Searls Thursday.

Delta and Coke should absolutely be ashamed of this napkin. Telling passengers that their planes are full of interesting people? Bald faced lie. pic.twitter.com/FUdfCsYFRR

— Justin Searls (@searls) February 8, 2019

At least the passengers on Delta flights did not have to deal with an intoxicated pilot. A pilot flying for American Airlines was arrested before he made the long flight from Manchester, England, to Philadelphia after he was suspected of being drunk Thursday.

Follow Evie on Twitter @eviefordham.

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