"Paid for 2 Seats, So I’ll Lie Down"…Chinese Troublemaker Delays Flight by 2 Hours

"Has an illness" and lies down, female passenger
Angry passengers demand "Get off"
After persuasion, finally departs after 2 hours 25 minutes

A female passenger caused a departure delay after lying down and refusing to get up on a plane preparing to take off in China.

On the 22nd, the Hong Kong South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that a flight departing from southern China was delayed by about 2 hours and 25 minutes due to a woman who refused to sit. The woman claimed she had a medical condition and needed to lie down in her seat.

A female passenger lying down continuously on a plane about to take off.
[Image source=Hong Kong South China Morning Post (SCMP)]

Before takeoff, the flight attendants asked all passengers to sit upright. However, the woman did not comply and occupied two seats, lying down across them. When the flight attendants told her to "sit up straight," she responded, "Anyone who tries to kick me off the plane must take full responsibility." She also said she was "not feeling well" and argued, "If I booked the seat next to mine, wouldn't that be enough?" continuing to lie down. As the delay worsened, other passengers stood up and shouted at her to "Get down!"

Eventually, airport police arrived and told the woman, "Flight attendants and pilots have the right to refuse boarding passengers," and "If you do not cooperate, you must get off." The woman then claimed, "Would you have told me to sit up straight even if I were disabled?" After persistent persuasion from the police and flight attendants, the woman finally sat upright after about 2 hours and 25 minutes, allowing the plane to depart.

This video sparked significant controversy in China as well. Chinese netizens on TikTok reacted with comments such as, "If the woman was injured due to turbulence, should the airline compensate her?" and "The flight attendants should have removed the woman from the plane and put her on a blacklist. Many passengers were affected by her. Who is responsible for the delay?" among various other responses.