Additional Coverage:
- Passengers on a plane locked a crying toddler in a bathroom. The airline said her grandma gave them permission. (newsbreak.com)
On a recent Juneyao Airlines flight from Guiyang to Shanghai, a distressing incident unfolded involving a crying toddler who was locked in an airplane bathroom by two passengers. The child’s ordeal, captured on video and posted on Chinese social media by a passenger named Gou Tingting, has since sparked widespread outrage.
Originally shared on Douyin, the Chinese equivalent of TikTok, the footage showed attempts by passengers to block out the noise of the child’s cries with tissues. In the video, a voice is heard insisting the child would remain locked up until she ceased crying. The video quickly went viral, drawing severe criticism from viewers, some of whom accused Gou of bullying and showing a lack of empathy.
Viewers’ concerns extended to the psychological impact such treatment might have on the toddler, with many people expressing their disapproval online. According to Sixth Tone, a state-run Chinese media outlet, some individuals even filed police reports against the women involved.
However, the Guizhou Airport Public Security Bureau chose not to pursue charges, noting that the child’s grandparents had sought help from the passengers to quiet the child, viewing their actions as an attempt to “educate her.” Reports confirmed that the grandmother stood by the bathroom door while the incident took place.
Despite significant backlash, Juneyao Airlines acknowledged the occurrence in a statement on Weibo, revealing that the child’s grandparents had allowed the intervention. Attempts to reach Gou for a response were unsuccessful.