Social media users react with horror to a video clip showing an adult locking a crying toddler into an airplane toilet. Shared on Chinese platforms, the footage features two women on a Juneyao Airlines flight from Guiyang to Shanghai. The infant, traveling with her grandmother, reportedly cried throughout the flight, prompting the grandmother to allow two other female passengers to “educate” the little girl. One of the women, identified as Gou Tingting, took the girl and locked her in the bathroom, telling her she would not be freed until she stopped crying.
The child is reportedly one year old, and when the footage appeared on Sixth Tone, an English-language Chinese social media platform, it was met with a ferocious response. Viers accused Gou Tingting of “bullying” and lacking basic empathy for such a young child.
On Douyin, China’s version of TikTok, Gou replied to similar criticisms, saying, “I just wanted to calm the child down and let everyone rest.” She went on to explain that passengers had fled to the back of the aircraft to escape the noise, while others stuffed their ears with tissue paper. Nevertheless, one poster asked her, “Didn’t you cry when you were young, too?” Some people defended Ms. Gou, however, saying, “Children cannot do without some education.”
Chinese airport authorities confirmed the incident and said that no action would be taken against Gou Tingting because the child’s grandmother requested help from other passengers to calm the child.
Airplane toilets average around 24 by 34 cm wide, measured from wall to wall, and travel experts say they are getting smaller. Major manufacturers, including Boeing, have reportedly shaved inches off the average economy-size bathroom in recent years, attempting to free up more space for extra seats. Additionally, sinks have been reduced so much that travelers say it is near-impossible to use them without splashing water around the tiny room.
In Europe, Irish airliner Ryanair floated the idea of charging passengers to use the toilet back in 2012, but public outrage placed the plans on the back burner. Owner Michael O’Leary brought the issue back up again last year, saying he may still go ahead with the proposal. He assured customers that every cent raised would go to charity.
