Two airline passengers have drawn outrage in China after locking a crying toddler in a plane restroom, sparking a heated online debate about handling children in public spaces.

The controversy began this week when one of the women posted a video on Douyin, China’s TikTok equivalent, showing them inside a locked bathroom with a wailing girl, around one year old. In the footage, one woman says, “We won’t let you out unless you stop crying,” while the toddler tries to reach for the door. After the child quiets down, the woman filming warns, “If you make any noise again, we’ll come back.”

The incident occurred on August 24 during a Juneyao Airlines flight from Guiyang to Shanghai. The child, traveling with her grandparents, cried throughout the nearly three-hour flight. The airline said the passengers took the child to the restroom with her grandmother’s consent, claiming it was to “educate” her.

Following widespread criticism, the airline apologized for the incident and condemned the passengers’ actions. The video poster intended to ensure a peaceful flight but faced backlash for being heartless and bullying. Many social media users expressed concern over the impact on the child’s mental health and criticized the behavior as inappropriate.

This incident highlights ongoing discussions in China about managing children’s behavior in public, amid government efforts to encourage higher birth rates.