An awkward photo of airline security staff packing an embarrassed air stewardess into a plane's overhead compartment circulating on social media has exposed an odd culture by Kunming Airlines.

The picture, which was first uploaded on WeChat messaging service, shows a stewardess in her red work uniform covering her face as she is crammed into the compartment. A security officer stands off to the side watching her. Another picture shows the officer closing the bin with the stewardess inside.

The photo prompted several news reports which revealed it was a regular initiation when newly recruited stewardesses complete their first flight for Kunming Airlines, headquartered in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province.

The airline responded by saying the stewardesses were "very happy" to be put into compartments.

"Everyone in our company is very familiar with each other and gets along very well," a statement on the airline's Weibo microblog said. "[The compartment case] is just a way of celebrating the completion of their first flight and there is no malicious behavior of any kind."

Media reports said nearly all new stewardesses will partake in the rite of passage before completing their first 30 to 50 hours of flight. The practice has been in place for years and new stewardesses often have no choice but to accept it.

Some stewardesses tried to report the practice to airline authorities, but saw few results, according to an article on Dayoo.com, a website operated by Guangzhou Daily newspaper.

Kunming Airlines, which declined to comment when contacted by Xinhua, said the company has never received any complaints about it in their statement.

They said the incident was "a personal behavior" and that they "never encouraged such thing". The people involved have been reprimanded in order to prevent similar incidents in the future.

An air stewardess from China Southern Airlines, requesting anonymity, said they have various celebrations for new recruits but they never involve putting people in overhead compartments, according to China.com.cn. A stewardess from Hainan Airlines told the website that she thinks such acts are "inappropriate".

The topic drew more than 50,000 comments on web portal Netease.com as of Wednesday. Many people are unconvinced by the airline's claims of innocent fun.

"They claim it's just a joke, but is it even allowed by aviation regulations?" asked Netease.com user Qiuwentian. "If it's OK, then I might as well try the compartment when I board your aircraft next time."

"This is humiliating," said Weibo user "Bowuguandemutouyu".

Other netizens seems to be unbothered by it, calling it part of corporate culture and saying there is no need to overanalyze it.0
Kunming Airlines began operation in 2009. It was invested by Shenzhen Airlines in south China's Guangdong Province and primarily operates regional flights in China.