Desperate
I am not aware of a heter to daven facing an ervah
I’m pretty sure it’s a bracha levatala
Even the flight attendants can be an issue (skirt length)
The eitzah is daven facing the wall.
El Al is more understanding . But the will isn’t always there . Not everyone wants to wake up 4 hours after takeoff.
I am the proactive type. So I put on my talis and walk over to the bulkhead doors and start davening. It’s usually enough to get others moving and join me. But I will always daven netz rather than assume a minyan will form later.