A crying man threw a temper tantrum over a crying baby on a Southwest Airlines flight earlier this week. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything quite like this before…
In this post:
Man loses it over baby’s incessant crying
This incident occurred during a flight to Florida, on Monday, April 17, 2023. Specifically, the flight was supposed to land at Fort Lauderdale Airport (FLL), but had to enter a holding pattern over Florida due to weather. Then following this incident, the plane had to divert to Orlando Airport (MCO).
It was allegedly bumpy during the extended holding pattern, and the flight was also longer than expected, so some passengers became impatient. Not surprisingly, a baby was crying during this part of the flight, leading to another guy losing it.
In the video that was initially shared on TikTok, a man can be seen losing his patience over a crying baby. The man started by telling the parents that they needed to shut their baby up. The crew then got involved, and it escalated from there. Among other things, the man said:
- “Can you calm the child down, please? I had headphones on, I was sleeping.”
- “Why is the baby yelling? I’m not screaming. Want me to scream? I’ll f*cking scream, please stop the baby.”
- “If that child was a Black baby, what the f*ck would be happening right now?”
- “We are not in Florida yet, you cannot do what the f*ck you feel like.”
- “We are in a f*cking tin can with a baby in a g*ddamn echo chamber, and you want to talk to me about being f*cking okay?”
The rant goes on and on, and the man uses about two dozen expletives. You can watch it below, though as you can tell, a lot of the language will be offensive to some.
Kudos to the crew for how calmly they handled the situation, and also how they deescalated. Once the situation became bad, flight attendants moved the mother and the baby to another part of the plane, away from this guy.
Here’s the statement Southwest issued about this incident:
“We do not have details on this flight to share but commend our flight crew for their professionalism and offer our apologies to the other customers onboard.”
The flight diverted & man was removed from plane
After being unable to calm the man down, the decision was made to divert to Orlando, and authorities were contacted. When the flight diverted to Orlando, the man was informed that he had to deplane. However, he reportedly refused to do so, and as a result the airline made the decision to deplane everyone, in order to minimize the drama. Other passengers could then continue to Fort Lauderdale, while this man couldn’t.
Authorities ended up meeting the flight, and this man was escorted off, but he didn’t end up being arrested or charged with anything. If this man wanted to avoid crying babies, I think it’s safe to say he probably wasn’t very happy about being dropped off in Orlando. 😉
Bottom line
I don’t think anyone likes the sound of crying babies, from parents to strangers. While not all parents do an equally good job managing their babies on planes, the reality is that there are some situations where you just can’t calm a baby, and they’re going to scream no matter what you do.
Of course that’s kind of annoying, but it’s also to be expected when you’re in a metal tube with 150+ other people, there are pressure changes, etc. This guy’s reaction is of course totally out of line, and then some. Maybe he was having a rough day, or maybe he has some other issues. Regardless, hopefully he gets the help he needs, so that he doesn’t act like this again.
What do you make of this Southwest Airlines baby incident?
The man should have been moved to another seat if available, detained and arrested for this disturbance. I have been on a 14 hour flight to Du Bai from Chicago with several crying babies and no one said a word or complained. the man was a selfish asshole.
We should have child free flights.
I wlould pay extra
You can. It's called chartering a private jet.
Do people think parents ENJOY holding a crying baby? It’s incredibly stressful to have everyone staring at you and making comments when your baby cries. It’s also completely unpredictable how babies will react on a flight. I had one who always immediately fell asleep, and the other who cried the whole time, no matter what we tried. There’s very like to be done sometimes, and adults traveling without kids need to bring noise-canceling headphones and...
Do people think parents ENJOY holding a crying baby? It’s incredibly stressful to have everyone staring at you and making comments when your baby cries. It’s also completely unpredictable how babies will react on a flight. I had one who always immediately fell asleep, and the other who cried the whole time, no matter what we tried. There’s very like to be done sometimes, and adults traveling without kids need to bring noise-canceling headphones and just roll with it.
People with autism can get triggered by a baby crying (pitch) and sudden change in a tense situation. Walk a mile in someone’s else shoes.
hahahaahhaaha....then part of illness is getting thrown in jail. im not privy to their issues nor do I care.
Not "controversial." Just stupid. How could one be so ignorant as to think that parents would not do everything in their power to sooth their baby? (You're obvously not a parent.)
hahaha so good. "please stop the baby". what an idiot
Wow, so many people hating on a baby crying. But guess what: we hear so many more stories of adults being completely inappropriate on planes than babies. So...how about banning adults who can control their behavior but don't.
Yes, parents have a humongous part in this. If this baby's parents were actively doing whatever they could to calm the baby but couldn't, what else can you do? But if you are the type of parents...
Wow, so many people hating on a baby crying. But guess what: we hear so many more stories of adults being completely inappropriate on planes than babies. So...how about banning adults who can control their behavior but don't.
Yes, parents have a humongous part in this. If this baby's parents were actively doing whatever they could to calm the baby but couldn't, what else can you do? But if you are the type of parents who puts on your ANC headphones and let's your kid cry (like what happened on a flight I was on a few years ago), ban that parent.
I've got a toddler who's been on quite a number of flights. My wife and I are totally engaged with him, reading stories, providing toys, snacks, drawing, whatever...and he only watches maybe 30 minutes worth of videos on a transpacific flight (big on limiting screentime). The kid never cries or has tantrums because we've planned for it. Yes, it's tiring as hell on us, but that's our job as parents all the while ensuring fellow passengers can have a peaceful flight.
Pparents need to know that kids should not be flying with headcolds or other upper respiratory infections. This is typically what causes middle ear pain when cabin pressure changes during landing. Yet, parents are not realizing the child is in excruciating pain and will not stop crying until the pressure in the middle ear is released. Parents need to take more responsibility for crying and the behavior of their kids on planes
So your point is that the majority of crying babies on planes have a respiratory infection? Bad take from an obvious non-MD.
Sir you need to stop yelling. That baby needs to stop yelling. Classic. :))))))
This guy needs to be cancelled / shown to his employer etc. We have a clear face but because it would be racist to do so I’m sure it won’t happen…why do ‘certain’ people always get loud and yell to get their point across, seems like a wife beater, this poor woman he’s with
Yes the wife looks like an abused wife. I feel sorry for her.
Airlines should have a dedicated section for families with small children in the back of the plane, and lap infants should be strictly forbidden in business class. This minimizes disruption to the rest of the passengers at only minor inconvenience to the parents.
I try my best to give parents the benefit of the doubt but there are times when the situation can be extremely frustrating. Even expensive noise cancelling headphones can only do so much.
There are very few justifiable reasons for parents to fly with a baby, especially when they’re unable to calm their own effing baby.
@Endre and there are even fewer justifiable reasons for you to be wasting oxygen.
He should maybe not buy headphones from McDonald's and actually buy a non cheap a** version and all of his public shaming could have been avoided. I'm guessing the rest of his life is equally a mess as is usually the case with folks like this.
I mean, why the hell do people need to fly with a damn baby anyhow? Where the hell does your 8 month old need to be that you need to inconvenience a hundred other people?
I bring my kids on planes precisely to piss off people like you. It's even more fun in first/business class.
@ Alpha (should change your name to Beta) Hmmm, maybe to visit relatives, seek medical treatment with certain specialists, go on vacation as a complete family, or, as VInay says, to piss asswipes like you off.
What bothers me the most about this is the language the man was using. I'm 62 and have used my share of "language" in my day but not in a public setting like that. Since when is that okay and acceptable? That's shameful in my opinion.
I can tolerate babies since they can't help it.
@dander
I’m over it also as a frequent flyer. Even if there’s an infant in first class. Put on the noise cancelling headphones and life goes on. It’s just a baby.
There was a crying baby and a cry-baby.
One was @Eskimo, the other was @Yin Doh Yoo, but I can't tell them apart..
I'm dying to know what he thinks would happen if the baby were black.
I would be the first person to say I don't understand the desire to have children. But I'm not going to tell someone else they can't. And if I'm on the plane and crying baby annoys me (and it does) I don't freak out on people about it. My headphones are probably already on and they're noise canceling because you're on a plane and you need it. So whats the problem besides the desire to be angry in public which I'm sure it's a thing.
Sorry for my ranting at the parent. I was rudely awakened from my dream of Emirates First Class by the crying baby and I forgot I was on a typical Southwest flight and I lost it. I pledge to do better next time.
Was Jennifer with you??
We need to remember that people have rights, and that sometimes those rights trump any rights we perceive we may have. That baby's right to be a baby (i.e. cry) is greater than any right we may perceive or believe we have to silence in a public place. Just travel with earplugs and move on and remember that we were once babies as well.
This is a non-sequitur take. No one is blaming the baby. Rightly or wrongly, it's the parents being blamed.
back on US Airways, I was flying in first class from PHX to SAN with my young infant as a lap child. I ran her energy out in the gate area, changed, burped, and played up to the moment we boarded. Sat down, and the guy next to me started to curse that he was next to a baby. She was quiet, plane was boarding - already pissed off.
FA asked if there was...
back on US Airways, I was flying in first class from PHX to SAN with my young infant as a lap child. I ran her energy out in the gate area, changed, burped, and played up to the moment we boarded. Sat down, and the guy next to me started to curse that he was next to a baby. She was quiet, plane was boarding - already pissed off.
FA asked if there was a problem, he asked if there was a way they could upgrade someone else rather than me with a baby (I had paid for my seat, thank you very much).
I'm hoping at this point for the baby to exact revenge on this guy. What does she do? Falls asleep when the engines turn on, gate to gate she was out like a light.
While deplaning other passengers asked if I was an anesthesiologist. Still wish though that the second someone uses a curse word against a baby that they get off the plane. It's just not appropriate.
I was on that plane with you. Your kid cried the whole time. When we landed everyone cheered when the FA told you that you and your f'ing kid are not welcome on USAIR anymore.
Funny as heck.
There should be a regulation, no lap babies in First Class. All "passengers" in First Class must have their own seat. Period.
Black people always bitchin, surprised he didn't ask for reparations.
Oh im so poorly done by, oh its everyone else fault, oh im such a loser.
Lemme guess: Tyrone and Jamal stole some of your past girlfriends, huh? :)
#S.D.E.
We need to bring back corporal punishment. Society has gone far too soft and feminised everything. It has produced a society of entitled and spoilt young people who are now parents to an even more spoilt generation of children.
Apparently, it also generated a generation of folks with really poor grammar skills thereby nobody really listened to a thing they said.....spoilt is not a word... Trump university grad?
Tell me more about it. Those stupid families.
Easy solution, dude: fly private!
As much as a crying baby drives me up a f***ing wall on a plane or train, I know that parents are typically unable to do anything to get them to quiet down. I've seen moms and dads struggle in vain for over an hour on a plane to get their tyke to shut up, to no avail. Alas, that's the price we pay for living in a society of humans!
You could say the same thing to the baby.
If you believe the baby has an understanding of how human society functions and a sense of entitlement, sure, that works.
If you believe the baby has an understanding of how human society functions and a sense of entitlement, sure, that works.
My child had a couple hundred thousand flight miles by the time he was potty trained me. We had a few inflight moments but I never stopped trying to calm him when the wheels came off and it always took way less than 45 minutes to get things under control
We don’t know what happened. This was on a common carrier where one’s needs and desires are subjected to the many
But the notion...
My child had a couple hundred thousand flight miles by the time he was potty trained me. We had a few inflight moments but I never stopped trying to calm him when the wheels came off and it always took way less than 45 minutes to get things under control
We don’t know what happened. This was on a common carrier where one’s needs and desires are subjected to the many
But the notion that all the world has to accommodate me and my needs has got to com to a screeching halt and yesterday. If I want screaming kids, I will have them. If you gave them, it is not society’s job to ensure them. No different than using headphones or not farting in church
I always fart in church
Child abuse... why do these entitled parents drag these infants all over the place, at such a young age. Get in your minivan and take a family vacation, driving, and stop annoying everyone else around you.
He probably suffers from misophonia. While his reaction is obviously unacceptable, you probably don’t realize the level of anger and anxiety he was dealing with. The anger was likely exacerbated by the parents doing nothing to calm the baby.
Thank you for your understanding of those of us who feel actual pain with intense screaming.
I take it you received that medical degree from Trump University where diagnosing from a video is taught in Med 101.
Good example of a Beta Male anger. He's yelling the same way his momma yelled at him! Real men (Alphas) don't get carried away like that.
The help he needs? What does that even mean!
I hope SWA puts him in their no fly list.
Babies should be in cargo, agree there.
But this guy is just an idiot.
The title should have had “Florida Man” somewhere in there.
That is gold. Fuck them kids bro.
Yes, I am making the controversal statement now: Why didn't the parents calm the baby down over the course of 40 min?
The baby didn't cry just for the fun of it, it probably felt discomfort. And the parents apparently did nothing and not only held the entire cabin hostage, but more importantly let their baby suffer for an extended period of time. This is inconsiderate to the other passengers and gross negligent to the baby.
I think the man has a point.
Just going out on a limb that you've never raised a child. Unless your baby takes a pacifier (some don't) or wants to take the bottle/boob, you're pretty much SOL if a baby loses it on a plane. Older infants/toddlers can these days be quieted with iPhone/iPad, but without knowing the full situation, it's pretty ignorant to think parents can always some how magically make a baby stop crying.
I have a 2.5 year old and a 6 week old, and I'm here to tell you something you apparently need to know: sometimes no matter what their adult chaperones do, young children can't be calmed down in 40 minutes, or perhaps even hours. Of course reasonable attempts should always be made to calm them down, but this expectation still isn't realistic regardless. I would advise non-parents to bring noise cancelling headphones if that's a potential problem for them.
Will, if your advice to non-parents is essentially "deal with it" then my advice to parents is to avoid travel with infants unless absolutely essential (funerals, emergencies, etc). If I'm going to put up with a crying baby for 6 hours then it had better be for a good reason and not because mommy and daddy want to go to Cabo.
Watson - this is a bad take. Will's comment was not for non-parents to "deal with it". It's simply sometimes impossible to stop a baby crying despite your best attempts. Also, telling parents to avoid traveling with infants "unless absolutely essential" is totally ignorant. Assuming everyone has access to full time nanny's is as moronic as those wondering why the whole world doesn't drive an electric car.
I support him.
That baby woke him up though his headphones and then cried for 45 minutes straight. I'm cranky and slick tongued when someone wakes me unexpectedly too.
He didn't assault or threaten anyone nor violate any FAA/DOT regulations, he just went on a rant. And guess what? It worked, the baby shut the hell up. Give him a medal.
It's pretty illuminating that you think throwing a tantrum as an adult has any bearing on whether an infant calms down
Babies can sense what is going on and it didn't want that smoke! I don't why Americans think babies are such little pathetic helpless beings that don't know what they are doing. They are not.
Right!!! That baby was like.....Wait a minute, I better chill out before that dude come over here.
I think that all of the adults on the plane should have just started making baby crying noises at the top of their lungs to drown out this idiot and maybe he'd get the hint at just how stupid he is, though someone that unhinged usually has no clue how far they've strayed from sanity. At least airplanes are one of the few places we don't have guns these days, so the returned taunt shouldn't...
I think that all of the adults on the plane should have just started making baby crying noises at the top of their lungs to drown out this idiot and maybe he'd get the hint at just how stupid he is, though someone that unhinged usually has no clue how far they've strayed from sanity. At least airplanes are one of the few places we don't have guns these days, so the returned taunt shouldn't lead to some worse escalation, so take advantage of that safety and give the idiot a taste of his own tantrum.
that whole interaction surely makes it to the top 10 outlandish aviation moments of the year lol
CLICKS!
JEALOUS!
“We are not in Florida yet, you cannot do what the f*ck you feel like.”
This is Comedy Gold!!!!
"Sir, You are yelling.
SO IS THE BABY!
But you're a grown man
DID THAT MF PAY EXTRA TO YELL? "
LOL!!!! This is some crazy stuff.
This reminds me of Eskimo. He is our OMAAT crybaby! Lol
I almost spit out my breakfast when I read this, because truer words were never spoken...
We are not in Florida yet, Charles.
He should have definitely been fined or charged with something , hopefully southwest put him on the no fly list and they make him pay for the diversion - I was on a JQ flight recently from Perth to Sydney and someone vaped in the bathroom, luckily the smoke alarm went off and and the crew acted quickly to stop it. Though after chatting to the cabin manager he said had it been any longer...
He should have definitely been fined or charged with something , hopefully southwest put him on the no fly list and they make him pay for the diversion - I was on a JQ flight recently from Perth to Sydney and someone vaped in the bathroom, luckily the smoke alarm went off and and the crew acted quickly to stop it. Though after chatting to the cabin manager he said had it been any longer we would have had to divert to Adelaide so the plane can undergo checks of some sort. He said has that been the case the airline bills the passenger in this case as it was at night he estimated it would have cost around $30k!
Like Ben said, if he hates children this much there's no worse punishment than being dropped off in Orlando.
More crying kids. Great!!!
This man is a paid actor. He entered a revenue sharing agreement with travel bloggers who know that coverage of these sorts of incidents is a high traffic and revenue generator.
Any proof whatsoever of this outlandish and bizarre claim?
Seeing as I pulled it out of my rear end, no. Do please remember not all true statements can be proven.