① Disruptive Behavior on Board
When you board an airplane, you find yourself in a confined space with fellow passengers for an extended period. Especially during long-haul flights, the type of passengers you encounter becomes crucial. Prolonged hours onboard can lead to fatigue and heightened sensitivity to minor disturbances. During such times, passengers must exercise caution to avoid inconveniencing others.
Recently, stories of passengers enduring the discourteous behavior of fellow travelers on airplanes have become increasingly common. One passenger’s account of encountering inconsiderate parents during a flight to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, resonated strongly with many readers.
Passenger A traveler was on a flight bound for Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Passenger A witnessed a shocking scene during the flight involving another passenger, Passenger B, and their child. Passenger B was changing the child’s diaper right in their seat, neglecting to use the airplane’s restroom.
Passenger A voiced their displeasure with Passenger B’s actions to the flight attendants, but communication was ineffective as Passenger B did not understand English.
The disruptive behavior did not end there. The child in question began kicking the seat before them, prompting the passenger to request that the parents intervene. However, the parents made no effort to control their child.
Throughout the five-hour flight to Ho Chi Minh City, the child continued to sing loudly and make a commotion while the parents remained seemingly unfazed. Even during disembarkation, when the child kicked and hit other passengers, the parents did not offer any apologies.
They mockingly reprimanded other passengers for their reactions, stating that they had spoken to their child. This infuriated fellow passengers.
In response to Passenger A’s account, netizens expressed their anger with comments like “This is such an embarrassment for Koreans,” “I’ve encountered many inconsiderate Koreans on flights,” and “How much consideration do we owe to children on airplanes?” highlighting the frustration experienced by passengers.
② Story of Struggles with an Inconsiderate Couple
A story involving a Korean couple on an airplane, which led to a confrontation with another passenger, also garnered attention.
Passenger A shared a post on an online community titled “12-Hour Flight with a Disruptive Couple Carrying Twins.” According to Passenger A, “I was on a 12-hour long-haul flight, and there was a couple with twins seated behind me.”
The couple continued to hold the twins throughout the entire 12-hour flight. Shortly after takeoff, when meal service began, the father of the infants asked that his seat be raised, presumably to facilitate feeding. However, within five minutes, he reclined the seat again.
The passenger sitting next to Passenger A, a foreigner, raised his seat back, making it uncomfortable for the couple. In response, the mother of the twins yelled at the foreign passenger to raise his seat again.
The foreigner retorted, saying, “Why should I suffer for your child? It’s not my problem.” Passenger A agreed with the foreigner and raised the seatback again, but the couple seated behind them persisted in pushing and kicking their seats.
The harassment continued, and the child’s cries grew louder, prompting Passenger A to contact a flight attendant. Thankfully, the situation was resolved peacefully upon arrival.
However, upon disembarkation, the child’s father approached Passenger A, saying, “My child boarded the plane first; show some consideration. If you want to be comfortable, fly business class.” In response, an enraged Passenger A said, “If you want to travel comfortably with your child, fly business class yourself.” The child’s mother dismissed Passenger A by telling him to mind his business.
Passenger A voiced their frustration, questioning how much consideration should be expected from airplane passengers with children. Netizens shared their experiences, advising others to call for flight attendants and highlighting the challenges of encountering similar situations during flights.
③ Disturbance Over Crying Infant
Another incident on an airplane involved a passenger causing a disturbance over a crying infant.
On August 14th, a male passenger suddenly shouted on an Air Busan flight from Gimpo to Jeju. Holding a child, this passenger verbally abused the parents, saying, “Why are you causing trouble with your child? Who asked you to have a baby?”
He continued shouting, saying, “Why are you causing trouble with your child? Who asked you to have a baby?” Even when flight attendants intervened, the situation did not improve.
He went on to say, “Then I’ll just die here, shall I? Can’t I?” in a rage. The Jeju Western Police Station applied for an arrest warrant, citing violations of aviation security laws. The man faces allegations of assaulting the infant’s father, among other charges.
The man stated that he had paid extra for the emergency exit seat but became irritated by the infant’s crying. These incidents shed light on the challenges of dealing with disruptive behavior and the issue of consideration for fellow passengers on flights.
By. Han Mia (miumia___12@mememedia.co.kr)
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