IndiGo's 'insensitive' sticker of ‘extreme heavy’, with elephant image on coffin sparks outrage

A photograph posted online has triggered outrage and public discussion around dignity and sensitivity Indigo's logistics, particularly in the handling of human remains. An image, of a coffin went viral on X soon after it was shared, which showed the coffin marked for air shipment with labels that many said was unsettling.

The consignment, reportedly booked on a Delhi-Patna flight, was marked as 'Human Remains', and a sticker pasted on it read “Extreme Heavy” alongside an caricature of an elephant. Travel documents and what appears to be the deceased person's passport were visible on the top of the coffin.

What got people to vent their ire was the cartoon image of the elephant marked as human remains. This prompted discomfort among many X users who called on IndiGo, the airline which reportedly was transporting the coffin to revisit its labelling standards for sensitive shipments.

Might

sound silly but @IndiGo6E, for Human Remain cargo shipment. You might want to change the “Extreme Heavy” sticker with an elephant on it.

Just for the respect of the one who has departed

This video has surfaced over Instagram by an agency involved in transporting human… pic.twitter.com/ekgYA1TMPh

— Hirav (@hiravaero) October 5, 2025

“Might sound silly but IndiGo, for Human Remain cargo shipment, you might want to change the ‘Extreme Heavy’ sticker with an elephant on it. Just for the respect of the one who has departed," a user who shared the image on said.

IndiGo has not issued a response to the viral post. However, the incident sparked broader reflections on the role of tone, symbolism and respect in commercial aviation, particularly when transporting deceased individuals. For many, the post served as a reminder that even the smallest of details, like a sticker, can carry emotional weightage. The debate continued, drawing attention to a facet of air travel that often goes unnoticed.