Outrage Erupts After Two Women Lock A Crying Toddler in Airplane Restroom

When a toddler's tantrum leads to a turbulence no one expected.

Sophia

• Published in News
• September 2, 2024

An incident aboard a Juneyao Airlines flight from Guiyang to Shanghai has ignited a heated debate in China after two women locked a crying toddler in an airplane restroom, sparking outrage online. The event, which took place on August 24, went viral when one of the women, Gou Tingting, shared a video on social media showing herself carrying the distressed child into the restroom.

Gou claimed that her actions were intended to help other passengers by calming the child down and allowing everyone to rest. However, the video quickly drew backlash, with many criticizing her for a lack of empathy and accusing her of bullying the young child.

The airline later issued a statement saying that the toddler's grandmother had given the women permission to "educate" the child, a claim that further fueled the controversy.

The toddler, reportedly one year old, was traveling with her grandmother when she began crying during the flight. According to the airline’s statement, the grandmother agreed to let the two women take the child to the restroom in an attempt to soothe her.

The video posted by Gou showed the other woman telling the toddler she could only leave the restroom if she stopped crying, a condition that many online users found deeply troubling.

The criticism on Chinese social media was swift and intense. Many users expressed concern about the psychological impact such an experience could have on a young child.

One user on Weibo, China’s equivalent of Twitter, questioned Gou’s actions, asking, “What’s wrong with crying? Didn’t you cry when you were young too?” Others criticized the lack of understanding shown toward a child’s inability to control emotions at such a young age.

In response to the backlash, Gou defended her actions, stating that she "prefers to take action rather than be a bystander."

She explained that some passengers had moved to the back of the plane to escape the noise of the crying child, while others resorted to stuffing tissue in their ears. Gou's Douyin account, where the video was originally posted, has since been set to private following the outcry.

Despite the overwhelming criticism, some users defended the women, arguing that their actions were justified given that the grandmother had given her consent.

They suggested that the incident highlighted a broader issue of how to manage what are sometimes referred to in China as "bear children"—a term used to describe spoiled kids who cause disruptions in public spaces.

The incident has brought attention to the growing debate in China and beyond about how to handle young children in public spaces.

In China, some public trains have started offering separate compartments for children to prevent disturbances. Meanwhile, other countries have taken different approaches. For example, South Korea has implemented children-free zones in various public venues, a move that has sparked its own controversy.

In the airline industry, child-free zones are becoming increasingly common. Carriers like Corendon Airlines and Scoot offer passengers the option to pay extra for seats in areas reserved for adults only.

The debate over these practices continues, reflecting the broader societal tensions around accommodating children in shared public spaces.

As the discussion rages on, the incident aboard the Juneyao Airlines flight serves as a stark reminder of the challenges that come with balancing the needs of young children and the expectations of other passengers in confined spaces like airplanes.

Sophia