Two passengers reportedly confine a crying toddler in an airplane restroom, igniting outrage online
For many travelers, crying babies can be quite bothersome, but two airline passengers in China escalated the situation this month by shutting an upset toddler in an airplane restroom and sharing a video of the event.
CNN reported that the child was flying with her grandparents from Guiyang to Shanghai on Juneyao Airlines on August 24 and was distressed throughout the nearly three-hour journey.
Statements on social media and confirmations from the airline indicated that the two individuals took the child into the lavatory to “teach” her about appropriate behavior, reportedly with her grandmother’s permission, according to CNN.
Translations of the social media posts tell that the women entered the bathroom with the child and locked the door, with one telling the little girl, “we won’t open the door until you stop crying.”
In the United States, some parents have adopted a trend of offering goodie bags to fellow travelers if they’re concerned about their child’s noise or behavior during flights. However, most experts argue that this is unnecessary and that travelers should be more understanding of occasional children’s emotions.
“I don’t think other adults on the plane should feel inconvenienced by sharing the space with a baby,” stated Celine Brewer, founder of the Baby Can Travel blog, in a previous interview with YSL News.