'Never again': Chinese family devours 5.5 kg of durian outside Thai airport after fruit banned from flight

The incident unfolded on Sept. 16, when Li and his family prepared to fly back to China after a holiday in northern Thailand. Earlier that day, Li's father had purchased several boxes of fresh durian, known across Asia as the "king of fruits" for its custard-like flesh and notorious odor.

But airlines ban durians on board due to their overpowering smell, which many describe as sweet and creamy, while others say it reeks of rotten onions or gas. Faced with the choice of tossing away the fruit or eating it all before boarding, the family chose the latter, Mothership reported.

A video posted on Douyin showed the family huddled outside the airport, peeling open plastic bags stuffed with durian. Li could be seen gagging mid-bite, while his father pressed on enthusiastically.

In the clip, Li joked: "When you have a stubborn father who buys 5.5 kilograms of durian before a flight, your family has no choice but to finish it."

He later admitted he never wanted to see durian again after forcing down four or five pieces, adding that the family smelled of the fruit when they finally boarded the plane and had to apologize to other passengers.

The video has racked up more than 186,000 likes in just days. Commenters praised the family's determination not to waste expensive fruit, which can cost up to hundreds of dollars per durian in some markets.

Durian, native to Southeast Asia, remains a deeply divisive delicacy, adored by fans for its rich flavor but banned from many hotels, subways and airlines across the region because of its pungent aroma.