Airlines are facing calls to change rules for larger customers after a picture of a passenger went viral on social media. Originally shared by Christopher Elliott, from Washington DC, the passenger was pictured on board a flight from Helsinki to Copenhagen last year.

Elliott posted the image to his Facebook page, a nonprofit consumer advocacy organisation, to show the passenger’s difficulty boarding. It was then picked up and shared by Miami hip hop group Pretty Ricky, who claimed airlines have a responsibility to “have something in place” to accommodate all customers.

They said: “Airlines will have to have something in place for plus-sized passengers. This image was taken recently in a flight showing how difficult it is for people who are bigger than one seat. It’s also difficult for those sitting next to them. It’s a difficult situation because the airline will need to think of a happy medium.”

The four-man group were active from the late 1990s and had hits including On the Hotline, Your Body, Nothing but a Number and Shorty Be Mine. On this occasion, though, their post sparked debate about what provision should be made for larger passengers on aircraft.

The post has prompted 675 reactions and over 2,000 comments, with many suggesting larger passengers should pay for an extra seat when they travel.

User Eden Quirk said: “If they take up two seat [sic], they should pay for two seats.”

Obc Martin Donner-Grindemann added: “You should simply weigh them like luggage before check-in. If they’re too bulky, they won’t fly unless you buy a second ticket.”

Agreeing, Moto Art said: “Easily solved, if you are this large, you need to buy two seats. OR they should make oversized seats for people like this and charge them extra for the larger seat. Plain and simple.

Others shared their own personal experiences aboard planes.

Michael O’Connor said: “I sat next to a lady who had a seat belt extender on. For 3 hours, not fun or fair to others.”

Users also suggested the problem was one for society in general.

Rochelle Kennedy said: “As a society we could teach better eating habits and stop eating fast food.”

Ruth Hennessy suggested that larger passengers should be treated similar to pets who need extra space on board.

She said: “I pay $150 for my pet that has to ride in a crate, under the seat.”

Andy Wainwright added: “Tall people with long legs have to pay for extra leg room, I see no reason for wide people to be treated differently.”

Hunter Hyche Stringfellow pondered whether the passenger would be able to use plane facilities safely.

“How will he fit into the bathroom just saying the doorway is small.”