Two Strangers Locked Crying Toddler In Airplane Bathroom To ‘Educate’ Her

By Khadija Pervez in Parenting On 7th September 2024
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We've all experienced a flight with a crying baby at some point, right? The loud noise can really test your patience. 

However, remembering that this little one didn't choose to be on a plane traveling at 500 mph in a big metal tube can help you stay calm.

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But not everyone handles the situation with such understanding. On flights across the US, you might hear someone say something like "shut that baby up," which is really upsetting. 

In China, though, two women allegedly took things much further.

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This incident happened on a Juneyao Airlines flight from Guiyang to Shanghai, which is just over two hours long, on August 24.

According to reports, a grandmother agreed to let two strangers lock her toddler granddaughter in the plane’s bathroom as a form of 'education.'

The story only went viral after one of the strangers, Gou Tingting, recorded the incident on her phone and shared it on Douyin, which is China's version of TikTok.

The video shows Gou Tingting putting the little girl, who local media say is only about one year old, into the airplane's restroom. 

Would you lock someone else's child in a toilet if they were upset on a plane? Getty Stock Photo

She then locked the door and reportedly told the child she could only come out if she stopped crying.

The reaction on social media was swift, with many calling the women 'bullies.'

People defended the child on Douyin, criticizing the harsh treatment.

On Weibo, another Chinese social media platform, one user commented: "We should be thinking about how public spaces can better accept and accommodate young children."

Another user added: "Children cannot control their emotions when they are one or two years old. What's wrong with crying? Didn’t you cry when you were young too?"

Two Chinese women locked a stranger's one-year-old granddaughter in the toilet on a plane to 'educate her' Getty Stock Image

So, what did the woman have to say for herself?

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On her Douyin account, which is now private, she explained: "I just wanted to calm the child down and let everyone rest." 

She also mentioned that she "prefers to take action rather than be a bystander."

In response, Juneyao Airlines issued a statement confirming that the little girl's grandmother had agreed to let the strangers lock her in the bathroom.