Pilots go through bizarre spanking ritual when they complete training and people say they're 'freaky'

Social media users have been left entirely baffled by footage of a bizarre spanking ritual for pilots who have completed their training.

No, that's not a typo.

The unusual tradition is said to take place in Colombia, though it's also cropped up elsewhere in the world as other new pilots get in on the fun.

See the ritual in action here:

A compilation of clips shared online shows the newly-qualified pilots bending over to receive a whack on the butt with a wooden paddle, with both men and women taking part in the trend.

It's not exactly the same as getting a certificate or a handshake, so it's easy to understand why people have been left shocked by the tradition

"I think they training for the wrong thing lol," one person commented after seeing the video shared on X, as another pointed to one moment of spanking and wrote: "ngl this part was freaky af."

Another viewer, who came across the compilation on Reddit, wrote: "This seems....different."

Though the video seems almost too strange to be true, the action of being spanked does apparently have a home in the aviation industry.

It's unclear where the tradition started. (Reddit/u/highlemonsss)

One Reddit user said they were familiar with the tradition through their Gliding Flight Club in Hungary.

They explained: "We had a very similar thing when someone flew alone for their first time or obtained a specific aircraft licence.

"But we received/gave it with hands, not paddles. Another interesting thing to add here is that not only our primary instructor did this to us, but also those pilots who were there on the day and had already passed that "level" or licence.

"So if you were "unlucky", you potentially had 15 other people slapping your bum [one] after another (some gentle, some not so much)....."

Other pilots shared their experience with spanking on the Professional Pilots Rumor Network forum, where they addressed certain traditions.

Spanking isn't entirely uncommon in the industry. (Reddit/u/highlemonsss)

One pilot wrote: "When I first soloed in a glider ... it was common practise to get a spanking from your instuctor [sic] - as a compensation for making him suffer by having to watch your flying.

"This was followed in the evening by a mass spanking from all pilots and non-pilots in the clubhouse, the purpose of which was to improve your "seat of the pants flying skills" by giving you a feel for thermals."

Another agreed, writing: "I saw something similar at a gliding club I flew at in Germany (mid 90's). After the first solo the pilot was spanked by everyone, but only after the instructor had poured cold water down the back of his pants."

Though the tradition probably isn't one that would start nowadays, other viewers online have been more accepting of the practice, with one noting: "I think if everyone was consenting adults it doesn’t matter what I think."