The recent incident on a domestic flight in China where two women locked a crying toddler in a plane toilet to “educate” her has sparked widespread outrage and debate. The child, separated from her grandmother during the flight from Guiyang to Shanghai, was locked in the lavatory by the women, who are not related to her. The video, initially posted by one of the women on Douyin (China’s version of TikTok), shows the distressed toddler crying and trying to get out, while the women promise to release her if she stops crying.
Juneyao Airlines, which operated the flight, confirmed the incident and stated that the grandmother had consented to the “education” attempt. The airline also reported that the child’s mother, who was not on the flight, had been informed and expressed understanding of the situation.
However, the video, which has since been deleted, triggered a strong backlash on Chinese social media. Critics condemned the women’s actions as abusive, arguing that children have the right to cry and should not be subjected to such treatment. The incident also rekindled discussions about the treatment of “bear children” (xiong haizi) in China, a term used to describe unruly or spoiled children.
This is not the first time that behavior on flights has caused controversy in China, as previous incidents involving children and passenger disputes have also made headlines. The incident highlights ongoing societal debates about parenting, child behavior, and public tolerance in confined spaces like airplanes.