- Vietnam Airlines passenger recorded toddler's mid-flight tantrum
- Passenger remained calm and did not confront the child's mother during the episode
- The video went viral with over 4 million views and sparked debates on etiquette
A routine flight on Vietnam Airlines turned into a memorably uncomfortable ordeal for one passenger. In a video clip posted recently on TikTok, traveller Paul Lee captures the moment when the toddler seated beside him launched into a full-blown mid-air tantrum - screaming, kicking and unrelenting. The footage has since gone viral, reigniting discussions around in-flight etiquette, parenting and the shared realities of air travel.
In the clip, the passenger recorded himself calmly sipping tea with headphones on as the child beside him repeatedly kicked his arm and shoulder during the tantrum. The child's mother is seen trying to intervene but appears largely ineffective, at one point even laughing. He captioned the clip: "Worst possible seat ever next to a crying baby."
Speaking to Newsflare, Lee shared that the episode lasted around five minutes, during which he chose to remain silent rather than engage. "This was filmed last year, and I had to sit next to a mother and daughter. This lasted for about five minutes," he said.
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Lee himself reflected that he chose not to escalate. "I didn't confront her or do anything, just waited and then enjoyed my flight. A little patience went a long way. The kid's mother did not apologise," he claimed, adding, "Rather than let this ruin my whole flight and make a scene, I just waited it out. Fortunately, minutes later, it stopped, and I enjoyed the rest of my flight. Some battles aren't worthy to be had."
Once posted, the video amassed more than 4 million views in just a few days, with social-media users responding strongly. Many praised Lee's composure, acknowledging how difficult such a situation must be. Others criticised the lack of parental control, calling the behaviour unacceptable and the mother's reaction insufficient.
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"As a parent, this annoys me. I would NEVER allow my son to do this on a plane," one wrote. Another added, "The airline needs to refund his ticket immediately."
A viewer said, "I feel for this passenger, he did so well, but it sucks that he had to." One chimed in, "He is too nice, and the parents accepted it as a weakness and let the kid do whatever he wanted."
One commented, "Luckily, this guy is a gentleman. Otherwise, fighting and arguments would happen. Omg!"
