Almost everyone has experienced a frustrating moment on a plane—whether it’s a child kicking your seat or someone taking more than their fair share of the armrest. However, few things are more aggravating than passengers talking loudly while everyone else is trying to sleep. While most people suffer through it quietly, others, eventually, speak up.
That’s exactly what happened on 21st July (Monday) during a four-hour AirAsia flight from Kuala Lumpur to Chengdu, China. A father, hoping to get some rest, asked three women behind him to lower their voices after they had been talking loudly for some time. Instead of complying, the women refused, and tensions began to rise.
As with most nighttime flights, the cabin lights had dimmed shortly after takeoff, and passengers began settling in for the journey. The man, visibly frustrated, reportedly called the women “stupid” out of growing irritation. That remark seemed to be the tipping point. What had started as a simple request quickly turned into a heated exchange. According to witnesses, the atmosphere shifted instantly, with raised voices and increasing hostility between both sides.
One of the women allegedly responded by grabbing the man’s lanyard and shouting at him. Another, wearing a green top and grey hat, leaned over his seat and appeared to punch him repeatedly. The third woman also joined in, making the scene even more chaotic. Nearby passengers began calling for help while others tried to distance themselves from the growing conflict.
Flight attendants rushed in to intervene, separating the individuals involved and attempting to calm the situation. Authorities were alerted midair, and police were standing by at the destination airport. One of the women later blamed the airline for not stepping in sooner, suggesting that quicker action could have prevented the situation from spiralling.
In total, five passengers were involved in the incident. Upon landing, airport police arrested three individuals, while the remaining two were issued fines. “The (local) authorities were notified and they met the aircraft upon landing to ensure appropriate action was taken,” AirAsia said in a statement. “The incident did not impact the return flight schedules or disrupt operations.”
AirAsia also issued a reminder to passengers, urging them to remain respectful throughout their journey and avoid any aggressive behaviour that could disturb or endanger others onboard.
Watch the video of the fight below:
Zaima Humaria contributed to this article
