Outrage in China as Passengers Lock Crying Toddler in Plane Bathroom: A Viral Controversy
An incident aboard a Juneyao Airlines flight has sparked widespread outrage and a heated debate across China. The controversy arose when two passengers locked a crying toddler in the plane’s restroom, an action that quickly went viral and has since ignited discussions on how to handle upset children in public spaces.
The event took place on August 24 during a flight from Guiyang to Shanghai. The toddler, who was traveling with her grandparents, cried non-stop for nearly the entire three-hour journey. In an attempt to silence her, two fellow passengers took the child to the restroom, reportedly with the grandmother’s consent, to “educate her.” One of the women filmed the incident and shared the video on Douyin, China’s version of TikTok, where it quickly gained attention.
In the video, one woman can be heard telling the distressed child, “We won’t let you out unless you stop crying,” while the toddler, appearing to be around one year old, struggles to reach the door. As the crying subsides, the woman filming picks up the child and warns, “If you make any noise again, we’ll come back (to the bathroom).”
The video, meant to highlight the passengers’ efforts to ensure a peaceful flight, instead unleashed a torrent of criticism online. Social media users condemned the women for their “heartless” actions, accusing them of bullying the child. The post was eventually deleted, but not before it had sparked a widespread debate on Chinese social media platforms like Weibo.
Public opinion quickly turned against the passengers, with many users expressing concern over the potential psychological impact on the toddler. Comments such as “Adults in their 30s can have emotional breakdowns, but people don’t allow toddlers to have theirs” and “We were all once children … Don’t be a cold-blooded adult” garnered thousands of likes.
The incident also prompted a response from Juneyao Airlines. Initially, the airline’s statement suggested that the grandmother had agreed to the passengers’ actions. However, as public outrage grew, the airline’s customer service department issued an apology, condemning the behavior and acknowledging the crew’s failure to intervene appropriately.
Chinese state media have also weighed in, criticizing the passengers’ actions as “inappropriate” and calling for greater empathy towards young children, who often struggle to control their emotions in stressful environments like airplanes.
This incident is the latest in a series of high-profile debates in China regarding the behavior of young children in public spaces, particularly on flights and trains. As the government encourages families to have more children, the issue of how society manages the presence and behavior of children in public is becoming increasingly contentious.
The controversy underscores the need for more understanding and patience towards children in public spaces, as well as the importance of compassionate and responsible parenting in these situations.
