5 Shocking Facts About The Burger King Crown Plane: Viral Meltdown Vs. Vintage Ad Campaign

The phrase "Burger King crown plane" is one of the most searched, yet misunderstood, terms in the world of viral internet history and fast-food marketing. For many, the words conjure up a single, infamous image: a passenger wearing the brand's iconic cardboard crown who became the center of a chaotic, racially charged incident on an airplane. However, as of late 2025, the keyword actually refers to two completely separate events—one a brilliant, if dated, advertising campaign, and the other a notorious real-life meltdown that shocked social media and led to a lifetime ban from the airline. This article dives into the complete, updated history of the "Burger King Crown Plane" phenomenon, separating the marketing myth from the viral reality.

The confusion surrounding this term highlights how a simple piece of brand paraphernalia—the paper crown—can become inextricably linked to both corporate advertising strategy and deeply uncomfortable public moments. Here is the full breakdown of the two distinct stories that define the "Burger King Crown Plane" legacy.

The Infamous 2020 Incident: Who Was the 'Burger King Crown Guy'?

The most immediate and current association with the "Burger King crown plane" is the viral video from late 2020 that circulated widely on platforms like Twitter and YouTube. This incident involved a passenger whose aggressive, racist tirade was captured on video, instantly turning him into an internet pariah known as the "Burger King Crown Guy." The sheer shock of the event, combined with the bizarre detail of the crown, cemented the moment in viral history.

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Biography and Incident Details: Ryan Brewer

• Name: Ryan Brewer (often referred to as the "Burger King Crown Guy" or "Racist JetBlue Guy").
• Age at Incident: Reported to be 74 years old.
• Flight Details: JetBlue flight from Kingston, Jamaica, to New York, USA.
• Date of Incident: Circa October 2020 (video went viral in late 2020 and early 2021).
• The Core Conflict: The man, wearing a Burger King crown, became aggressive after allegedly accusing a woman of taking his seat and kneeing him in the stomach. The ensuing verbal assault included the use of highly offensive racial slurs, which was recorded by other passengers.
• Consequences: The passenger was removed from the flight. JetBlue confirmed that the man was banned from flying with the airline indefinitely due to his behavior.

The video quickly became a cultural flashpoint, sparking intense debate about air travel etiquette, racism, and the power of social media to document and disseminate public misconduct. The man's choice of headwear—the innocent, promotional Burger King crown—served as a surreal, unforgettable visual element that amplified the story's virality and created the lasting keyword.

The Viral Aftermath and Internet Legacy

The "Burger King Crown Guy" incident proved that an everyday brand item could become a symbol of a completely unrelated controversy. The video's spread was instantaneous, leading to several long-term effects on internet culture and brand perception, even though Burger King itself was not involved in the incident.

1. The Creation of a New Meme Entity

The image of the man in the crown shouting on the plane was immediately co-opted into various internet memes and discussions. The phrase "Burger King Crown Guy" became a shorthand for public air rage and racist outbursts. This memeification, while dark, ensured the incident’s lasting place in the internet’s collective memory, continually driving search traffic to the "Burger King crown plane" keyword.

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2. The Airline's Swift Response and the Lifetime Ban

In the current climate of heightened scrutiny on passenger behavior, JetBlue's immediate and decisive action to ban the man was a critical part of the story. Airlines are increasingly taking a zero-tolerance stance on abusive or racist behavior, and this incident served as a high-profile example of the consequences. The ban is a permanent record associated with the incident, further solidifying its gravity.

3. The Brand's Unintentional Association

Burger King had no involvement in the incident, but the viral nature of the video meant their brand was unintentionally dragged into the controversy. The crown, an emblem of their "You Rule" and "Have it your way" campaigns, suddenly had a negative connotation for those familiar with the video. This highlights the unpredictable risks of mass-market promotional items in the age of viral social media. The brand's official crown remains a staple, but the incident is a strange footnote in its marketing history.

The Forgotten History: Burger King’s Original 'Plane Guy' Ad

Before the 2020 viral meltdown, the term "Burger King Plane Guy" referred to a completely different, and much more lighthearted, advertising campaign from the fast-food giant. This vintage context is essential for a complete understanding of the topical authority surrounding the keyword.

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In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Burger King launched a series of commercials that often used an airline setting or a character nicknamed the "Burger King Plane Guy." These advertisements were part of a broader marketing effort to highlight the quality or convenience of their products, often using humor related to the discomforts or inconveniences of air travel.

Key Details of the Vintage Campaign:

• Time Period: Circa 1999–2000.
• Focus: The ads often featured airline passengers or flight attendants, sometimes humorously dealing with "turbulent times" or promoting the idea of being able to "Have it Your Way" even in restrictive environments like an airplane.
• The 'Plane Guy' Character: This was not a specific person, but a reference to the characters in the airline-themed ads, which were designed to be memorable and relatable to the average traveler. The commercials were part of a larger push by Burger King to maintain market share against competitors like McDonald's.

This historical context demonstrates that the association between Burger King, its crown (a general promotional item), and the concept of an airplane is not new. It's a fascinating example of how a brand’s past marketing themes can be inadvertently revived and overshadowed by a completely unrelated, real-world viral event decades later. The original "Plane Guy" was a fictional character designed to sell Whoppers; the new "Crown Guy" was a real-life figure whose actions unintentionally created a global controversy.

The Takeaway: Separating Fact from Viral Fiction

The keyword "Burger King crown plane" is a perfect case study in the evolution of internet curiosity. It has transitioned from a niche reference to a vintage fast-food commercial to a direct reference to a shocking, unscripted incident of public misconduct. While the original ads are a fun piece of nostalgia, the 2020 JetBlue incident is the engine that keeps the phrase relevant and searched today. The image of the simple cardboard crown, meant to signify playful royalty, has been permanently altered by the actions of a single passenger on one turbulent flight.