Friends scene was deleted from episode due to 'terrible' airport bombing joke

Friends fans out there will know of the episode where newlyweds Chandler and Monica Bing jet off on their honeymoon - but it turns out it could have been quite different from what we saw.

In the episode titled 'The One Where Rachel Tells Ross', lovebirds Chandler (Matthew Perry) and Monica Bing (Courteney Cox) are seen at the airport ready to board the plane.

The scenes that aired show the pair get jealous about an overly lovey-dovey couple in front of them in the queue when, upon reaching the desk, they're upgraded to first class because they're on their honeymoon.

Monica then proceeded to try get the same treatment for her and Chandler, but the was no room for them - leaving Monica fuming.

She did, however, get her own back by stealing some oranges from the desk...

Adding salt to the wound, the other couple were then at the same hotel as Monica and Chandler and ended up getting a room upgrade.

But Friends fans weren't supposed to see them at their holiday destination in that episode as the original filming had more time in the airport.

In some deleted scenes that have surfaced online, Chandler found himself in hot water for making a bomb joke while stood next to a sign reading: 'ATTENTION: Federal Law Prohibits Any Joking Regarding Aircraft Hijacking Or Bombing'.

NBC/ Warner Bros. Television

After seeing the warning, Chandler then said to one of the security guards: "You don't have to worry about me ma'am, I take my bombs very seriously."

Next thing you know he was whisked away by guards and taken into a room for questioning.

As he tried to defend himself, Chandler says: "Shouldn't the sign really say 'no bombs'? I mean, isn't that the guy we really have to worry about here? The guy with the bombs?"

NBC/ Warner Bros. Television

These series eight scenes were set to air in 2001 - but then the 9/11 attacks happened.

With this in mind, producers thought it best to cut the scenes and reshoot some without any bomb-related content.

Before the unseen clip plays, viewers are met with a message from producers.

It reads: "The following scenes were deleted from the episode 'When Rachel Tells Ross' and are being presented here for the first time.

"The story involved Chandler joking with security at the airport and was set to air two weeks after the events of September 11, 2001.

"In light of this, we decided to replace the original story. As part of the history of the show, we hope that the scenes can now be viewed in the spirit which they were originally intended."

It's believed these deleted scenes were available on a 2004 UK release of the Friends DVDs.

The clip was shared to YouTube in 2007, and people were quick to praise their decision for getting rid of the scenes as it 'would have been terrible at the time'.

Someone said: "I really respect and admire that they cut this. It would've been terrible at the time. I don't think the franchise would have been as popular after, just because of that."

Another wrote: "They did the right thing by replacing this scene though it is funny as hell, hats off to the team of Friends they genuinely wanted to make us laugh not hurt. Thank you so much for caring and making us laugh hard."