A disturbing incident on a United Airlines flight from Rome to Washington Dulles involved a passenger cursing at a family over their two-year-old child, prompting intervention from both flight attendants and fellow travelers.
United Passenger Allegedly Curses At Family Over Crying Child
A couple traveling with their two-year-old son on a United flight from Rome (FCO) to Dulles (IAD) faced repeated verbal abuse from a fellow passenger. The child was reportedly under the weather and having a difficult flight. His parents walked him around the cabin, played with him, and tried to calm him down, but at times he was loud, as toddlers often are.
Midway through the flight, a woman turned around and told the family to “shut your baby up.” The father responded that they were doing everything possible and suggested that if she wanted silence, she should fly private. Later in the flight, while the father was in the galley with his son, the woman turned around and shouted at his wife to “shut your f***ing kid up!”
Other passengers immediately came to the family’s defense, calling the woman’s behavior unacceptable and even labeling her a “nasty person.” Flight attendants intervened, told the woman to stop cursing, and reassured the family that they were doing all they could. Several fellow travelers also checked in on the wife afterward, as she was shaken by the outburst.
Kudos To Passengers, Flight Crew For Sticking Up For Family
This is a sad but all-too-common story of entitlement and incivility in the air. A crying child can be disruptive, but when parents are clearly making every effort to calm their child, yelling profanities at them, particularly at a mother traveling with her young child, crosses a line. There is a difference between frustration and harassment.
The way the crew and fellow passengers rallied to support the family is encouraging. It shows that even in a confined space where tensions can understandably flare, the majority understand that children are part of the travel experience and that compassion is the appropriate response. United’s flight attendants, by addressing the woman directly and backing the family, did their jobs well here.
CONCLUSION
Parents traveling with young children already face stress, especially on long-haul flights. When a child cries, the best response from fellow passengers is empathy, not hostility. On this flight, the family received the support they deserved from both the crew and fellow travelers, while one passenger’s tantrum drew deserved condemnation. Kindness goes much further than profanity, especially at 35,000 feet.
I am sorry but the father does not seem like a nice person either.
When we look at the whole story, his statements like: “He was loud at times, but just being a 2-year-old.” Well…then you do all you can to occupy him and don’t downplay it to him “just being a 2-year-old”. Secondly, “if she wanted a quiet flight, fly private. Whatever — I brushed it off.” Well, you could’ve also gotten a private flight where your child could’ve continued “just being a 2-year-old”.
I am a very firm believer that children belong in most spaces, airplane being one of them – including premium cabins – so the woman shouldn’t have snapped at them and even less cursed them out. She does indeed seem like a nasty woman. However, the father also doesn’t seem to be particularly nice person.
That’s a fair assessment.
@Matthew … The Italian kid was yelling that he wanted his Wine . Nothing wrong with that .
My daughter’s first flight was when she was 3. I took her to Reagan National a week before to get her acclimating to airports and flying. I showed her the planes on the tarmac, took her around some pre-security shops, and bought her a donut. I educated her as to all the options to enjoy the flight including the IFE and coloring books.
She’s been a pro ever since.
Taking a child onto a plane when the child doesn’t know what to expect can be disorienting to say the least including the change in cabin pressure as they experience air pain.
A thought just occurred to me: Along with the mandatory safety instruction, perhaps a pre-flight video on cabin etiquette and how to deal with small children should be aired. People should be notified that it’s not cool to watch videos on speakerphone or to recline your seat back very quickly without checking to see behind you if the person there has a laptop open.
The ONLY time my daughter was a problem was when she was FRK-IAD and she was acting up so I took her down to the lower galley lavatories to “time out”. She didn’t enjoy it but I was with her for a full 5 minutes until she calmed down. The other passengers appeared to appreciate my parenting efforts. Why not take a screaming and crying child to the lavatory for 10 minutes? It would be better than screaming in the open cabin.
>The ONLY time my daughter was a problem was when she was FRK-IAD and she was acting up
You guys always trip up your stories. You didn’t fly from Seychelles to DC, there’s no direct flight and literally never was one.
And that’s how it is with lies. You always get caught. This story is pure fantasy.
I find it entitled to think that others should have to put up with other’s kids in public. I’m sure the woman just wanted to sleep but couldn’t because those two decided that they absolutely HAD to bring a two year old on a transatlantic flight.
If you can’t stop your kid from disturbing others, stay home. It’s so conceited to expect everyone to have to put up with your nightmare brat. That’s a lot more realistic than the jackass’ suggestion that everyone not wanting to listen to his screaming kid fly private.
Kudos to the woman – I wouldn’t have swore, but the sentiment is the same.
Swearing was key, but I have such a problem with people who hate kids…like, do you (not you specifically, but kid haters) have any idea of how the population survives or who will take care of you when you get old?
Very few people hate kids – what some people do hate is *parents* who refuse to make their kids behave in public spaces, and those who take a blasé attitude towards their kids’ disruptive behavior. We can’t tell if the parent in this story behaved this way as we have one side (we do acknowledge the woman was being inappropriate).
I like my own kid, and I like other kids who behave, and parents who make sure they behave.
Entitled parents without the courtesy to either stay home or be prepared to make sure their kid doesn’t become a terrible nuisance not so much.
No way you have kids. Nobody as dumb as you would even be able to figure out how to make a kud
Oh it’s quite simple Billy Bob, and unlike your parents his mom isn’t my cousin.
@Matthew, stop. You already clearly expressed your side when you wrote the article. Other people are entitled to their opinion too. I also strongly dislike screaming toddlers on planes. If you can’t control your kid, “fly private”, to quote you.
“The way the crew and fellow passengers rallied to support the family is encouraging. It shows that even in a confined space where tensions can understandably flare, the majority understand that children are part of the travel experience and that compassion is the appropriate response. United’s flight attendants, by addressing the woman directly and backing the family, did their jobs well here.”
Well said.
Hopefully the funeral service was nice but I would have left the 2 year old home if they gave someone they trust to watch the child during this difficult time. A 2 YO cannot grasp what is going on for the most part and certainly isn’t grieving.
What funeral you ask? What other reason could there be the fly with a 2 YO that far?
I have flown with my kids from when they were a few months old from the US to Germany…I don’t need to justfy the reason, but it was to visit their grandparents and aunts and uncles…a very good reason.
That’s an issue that you created by your life choices having relatives so far away. No you don’t need to justify your reasons but anyone making this CHOICE to fly with young children knows they are potentially creating issues for others, especially on a flight this long. And I can’t believe any parent would want to be put in that position because everyone loses when an event like this happens. All about life choices and how ones possibly affects others.
IMO, those people who selfishly choose not to have children so they can “enjoy” their own lives should shut the you know what up and just say thank you every time they see a baby on a plane. Hot take I know…
I hate it too when kids are loud…parents must do everything reasonably possible to ensure their children are quiet and well-behaved…but I have no tolerance for child haters.
Perhaps you should be less judgmental and accept that not everyone likes or wants kids, and doesn’t want to suffer in their presence either.
People without kids are doing nothing to continue society. They should not have an option on the matter
What makes you think not having children is a selfish decision? And that having children is not a selfish decision? And if I choose to not have kids, why on earth should I thank others for bringing a (potentially loud) baby onto a plane?
It’s a tough issue. Ideally, all people – including children and babies – should behave in public in a way as to not unnecessarily disturb others. This is especially true on public transportation. So in an ideal world, parents would not fly with children until they can naturally behave well on a plane.
Of course, that is just not possible in certain situations – and when that happens, empathy should be involved. However, empathy goes both ways. Parents with loud children should be apologetic and do all they can do make sure their children don’t disturb everyone. While a child-hating attitude is not helpful, what also isn’t helpful is “Hey, my kid is making some noise, but it’s a kid, so who cares what you think – you don’t have any right to have any complaints.”
I doubt the kid was acting up for kicks. The parents seem to have done their part as well to quiet the kid and it’s not like it was in business class where you pay extra for peace and space. Exactly what did the person expect the parents to do?
If you find shouting any swearing will solve your annoyance, I recommend ear plugs and staying home until self-control is mastered.
If they would just allow you to punch people in the nose for being boorish, this would be such a more polite society
If that were allowed your nose would be perpetually broken.
Nah, Mating with family is more a republican thing
RIP Jane Goodall!
Rome to Dulles is likely a daytime flight. Overnight would have made it a worse situation. The vulgar loudmouth is obviously a bully. Duct tape over the mouth would have been a nice solution. I also like the punch in the nose suggestion. Or spilling a full glass of red wine in her lap. A crying kid is annoying but that’s life.
They need to start having child-free flights. I would gladly pay more to not have screaming kids on the flight.
100% this!
“The child was reportedly under the weather and having a difficult flight.” For a 2 yer old, this is a recipe for disaster. I grew up with serious ear issues, had multiple surgeries and still remember excruciating pain while inside a plane and under the weather. I can only imagine what that kids was going through in terms of pain. Apparently parents were doing everything they could to calm down the kid but there is so much you can do with a 2 yer old under pain.
Two year-olds are a nightmare. There’s no reasoning with them. Sometimes the wheels fall off and it’s unpleasant for everyone, particularly the parents who quickly become desperate to try anything that might settle their child. A quick slug of brandy in a warm bottle of milk would work, but apparently that’s no longer socially acceptable.
Benadryl is a great alternative to brandy! I understand that kids cry and get restless but I’m amazed had how clueless some parents are. I wish the airlines would include some tips on their website for families traveling with children including tools to manage the increase pressure in kid’s ears especially at take off and landing. I’ve been on numerous domestic and international flights where parents brought nothing to distract their kids like toys, a tablet or snacks and the kids are fussy and crying. I would be too if I had nothing to do for a long flight…. have been tempted to utter a swear word at these parents.
Be careful using Benadryl without a doctor on children two and under. I am happy it worked out. for you.
Our pediatrician always recommended Benadryl for long trips when my kids were young. However, he made us test before traveling because in some kids Benadryl had the opposite effect and make kids overhyped. Funny enough, the pediatrician shared the story of his own kid where he gave Benadryl on a flight, kid went overhyped and he had to apologize to other passengers.
Santasico, the instructions on a children’s Benadryl are specific. None below 3, 3 to 5 only after a doctor. This is due to possible respiratory failure. Pre-drugging children to alleviate the experience of others (cursing screamers) is something I will not be silenced about. It is wrong and in my experience nothing I had ever needed. Full stop..
There’s so much wrong with Douchebag Dave Edward’s and Sch*tt Hsuan’s comments on this thread and other recent threads that it’s impossible to properly address them. And of course it’s pointless and a complete waste of time to try to have an intelligent rational discussion with someone who’s intoxicated, under the influence of certain drugs, psychotic or otherwise severely psychiatrically compromised and/or a cult member (especially MAGA). Both of them obviously fit several of those categories.
But thank you to both of for proving beyond any doubt that my assessment of you two SHPOS’s is 100% accurate.
Douchebag Dave Edwards & Sch*tt Hsuan & Dirtbag Derek, proving with your every (too frequent) comments that your nicknames are absolutely accurate and completely deserved and that you have nothing better to do with your pathetic waste-of-oxygen lives than to post abhorrent and revolting comments here over and over again every single day. Thank you for confirming again that you and other MAGAs are stupid hateful racist cretins. Trolling or not, the extent and frequency of your comments are indicative of severe psychiatric and/or addiction problems. Your insults, undoubtedly projection, speak much more to your lack of character than to anyone you attack. You should crawl back under whatever rocks you crawled out from you SHPOSs.
Liberals are defective.
Why am I not being included?
Of course the woman comes off as the intolerant bully in the story, but I must admit I have a sneaking sympathy for her. That high pitched keening wail that goes on and on and on can literally feel like an electric drill going into your head
I have watched n many sick passengers board airplanes for long distance flights. The only time an airline employee can interject is when the passengers is in their 8 month of pregnancy and even then if the passenger’s doctor has giving them their permission – we have no choice to allow them to fly. When it’s anything other than that – we stand back and let the customer be in charge of their own medical choices to fly or not to fly. When it comes to the passenger’s children – the airline staff are way out of the loop.
My guess is there is a possibility of some minor infection the child had and thus was screaming in pain the entire flight – B4 we judge the impatient man, or praise the crew for coming to aid of the family – we need to ask, were the parents of the child acting in the child’s best interests.
It’s baffling to me a tourist population (Americans) with so little class get all bent out of shape about swearing.
Do you know how rude you are when you visit Europe? You shout everywhere. ALL of you talk over other tables in restaurants. Your women think yoga pants are proper outdoor attire (we laugh at you, it’s such a wh*re way to dress in public).
But swearing? Oh no. That’s where we draw the line?
Yeah we get it. All lot of us are ashamed.
the problem is twofold
1) people in general are increasingly intolerant of the inherent chaos of life
2) parents in particular are increasingly oblivious to the impact of their children’s behaviour on other people
both running in tandem is a recipe for disaster, especially on a long flight
I can sympathize with both sides of this issue. However, parents of an infant should check with the pediatrician before flying for suggestions. Flying on VS from the US to LHR was a nightmare for me in Upper Class as a toddler screeched during the entire 9 hours. ARGH! Almost wish that all children under 10 should be checked as luggage. Yeah, that sounds evil but one can’t help but think that!
Young children should not be travelling, end of.
Dear Not Scott:
Sadly, it is all true. I am always stunned into confused silence when observing fellow Americans while visiting Europe. Reviled, that is the word. When you visit someone else’s culture, please be quiet, learn some of their language and dress conservatively or approximate the way the locals dress and imitate.
As to the topic of the article, life happens, always carry a pair or two of high decibel earplugs. And a helpful tip, offer to engage and entertain the child, even if you come off as foolish, you often create an amusing distraction for the child (and entertainment for the parents).
Not ALL choices in life include being able to stay at home with baby or child. People who choose NOT to have children or who cannot have them, should not be demonized and we can only hope they will have the creative empathy to endure the rest of us that have made the brave choice to become parents.
Americans need to find their sense of humor and empathy – I think we forgot to pack them when we departed the 2010’s.
Life happens while you are busy imagining the perfect scenario, it is neither Democrat, Republican nor any other political bent in order to upset/troll the rest of the audience.
I read comments in order to learn or find useful information, contribution to such commentary should approximate the same, any fool can add useless words and short sighted thoughts.