Chaos erupted on a subway train when a passenger’s bag filled with live crabs accidentally spilled open, causing the crustaceans to scatter everywhere. The woman frantically tried to gather them as fellow passengers rushed to her aid and advised her to move the bag away from the seats.
The viral video of the incident has quickly gained traction, amassing nearly 18 million views within three days on Instagram. The footage was shared by “SubwayCreaters,” a page known for capturing peculiar behaviours of subway commuters and their pets, including snakes.
In the video, a man from another row can be seen calmly holding one of the escaped crabs, while another person cautiously approaches to help corral them. As more crabs start crawling on the floor, the situation becomes even more chaotic. Despite the uncertainty of when the incident occurred, the video was uploaded on 27 September by the Instagram handle.
Amid the confusion, two passengers offered their bags to assist in containing the crabs, with the initial helpful man lending a hand as well. The woman expressed her gratitude to those who came to her aid as she attempted to manage the arthropods.
Comments on the post reflected the amusement of viewers, with one user praising the passengers for banding together to help, another admiring the nonchalant demeanor of the man holding the crab, and a different commenter quipping about “crabs on a train” being the new twist on the “snakes on a plane” concept.
Previously, the same Instagram page shared footage of a rodent carrying a crab along the subway tracks, adding to the quirky encounters within the transit system. Another video showcased a rat dragging a large slice of pizza along the tracks, contributing to the whimsical nature of New York subway sightings.
The unusual incident on the subway train served as a moment for strangers to come together and assist in an unexpected situation, highlighting the unpredictable and sometimes comical scenarios that can unfold in public spaces.
By Alisha Rahaman Sarkar