Shocking Contrast: Air Quality Difference Between Delhi and Vienna Captured in Viral Plane Video

During winter months, the Indian capital experiences a worsening pollution crisis.

A striking video showcasing the stark contrast in air quality between Vienna, Austria and Delhi, India has become viral across social media platforms. The footage, taken from an airplane window, reveals Delhi enveloped in a dense, yellowish smog, while Vienna appears lush and green with no visible air pollution.

An Instagram user shared this compelling video titled 'Difference in air quality captured from plane', which has sparked renewed discussions about Delhi's deteriorating Air Quality Index (AQI).

The user described their experience: "What my phone captured when I was travelling in plane from Vienna, Austria to Delhi, India. Felt like travelling from 8K resolution to the blurred 90's camera quality due to high pollution during the winter months due to various reasons!!"

The viral video has been shared on Instagram by user @indian.in.austria and has gained significant attention.

As of the latest update, the video had accumulated over 4.3 million views and hundreds of comments from concerned social media users who described the situation as both scary and alarming, requiring immediate attention.

One commenter likened it to going "From 4K resolution to Mexican cowboy action movie filter," while another noted: "Instead of acknowledging the problem, we Indians take it on ego and get defensive, that's not gonna solve the issue."

Another user commented: "Why are people getting triggered at just facts? Delhi is literally the most polluted city in the world at this point. Shouldn't we be happy it's being brought to light now."

A fourth comment emphasized: "This is truly scary and alarming! I fail to understand why people are not taking it seriously here."

Although many assume pollution in Delhi is only a winter problem, data indicates that residents are exposed to harmful pollutants year-round. According to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air's (CREA) latest PM2.5 assessment for October 2025, Delhi ranked as the sixth most polluted city in India, with an average PM2.5 concentration of 107 micrograms per cubic meter – three times higher than its September levels.

The latest Global Burden of Disease (GBD) data revealed that air pollution was responsible for nearly 15 percent of all deaths in Delhi in 2023, making it the city's single greatest health risk.

GBD analysis shows that air pollution-related deaths in Delhi increased from 15,786 in 2018 to 17,188 in 2023, despite authorities implementing several air quality management initiatives. While deaths linked to high blood pressure and diabetes also rose during this period, they remained lower than those attributed to air pollution.