Passengers lock crying baby in airplane bathroom, causing outrage

The incident came to light after a passenger posted a video on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok.

The footage shows the toddler locked in the bathroom, crying while a woman, sitting on the toilet, tells her she won't be released until she stops.

The child struggles to escape the woman’s hold and reaches for the door. This event occurred on a Juneyao Airlines flight from Guiyang to Shanghai on Aug. 24, as reported by CNN.

A still image from a video circulating on Chinese social media shows a baby girl being held by a woman inside the restroom of a plane on Aug. 24, 2024.

The child, who was traveling with her grandparents, cried loudly during the flight. Eventually, the grandmother allowed two female passengers, who were strangers, to take her granddaughter to the bathroom. One of the passengers recorded the ordeal and later uploaded it to social media.

When the baby finally stopped crying, one woman picked her up, warning, "If you make noise again, we'll come back here."

The video was also shared on Weibo, another Chinese social media platform, where it swiftly garnered harsh criticism for the treatment of the child. Many users on Weibo described the actions as "cold-blooded" and "inappropriate."

In response to the growing backlash, Juneyao Airlines' customer service issued a public apology, acknowledging the incident as a "crew oversight," according to The Independent.

The child’s mother later addressed the incident. In a statement issued by Juneyao Airlines, she mentioned her awareness of the events and expressed her "understanding" of the actions taken by the women, recognizing their attempt to assist during the flight.