A woman has gone viral after being filmed having a tantrum on an airport floor after being told her hand luggage was too heavy. In the footage filmed by a fellow passenger, the woman can be heard screaming whilst lying on her back with her arms and legs swinging erratically.
The tourist had reached the boarding gate when staff checked her carry-on suitcase at the Milan Malpensa Airport earlier this week. After being told that she must pay extra or throw some of her bags contents away, the woman had a childlike meltdown in front of other passengers. The incident caused, laughter, bemusement and irritation amongst those who witnessed the incident, with social media users proving quick to comment.
Many users used words such as “embarrassing” and “childish” to describe the behaviour with one saying: “I’m speechless. This is so embarrassing.”
Another added: “This is shameless and disgraceful behaviour.”
While another remarked: “Has she forgotten that she’s a grown up?”
It is understood that airport security personnel were required to intervene to calm the woman who is believed to be middle aged.
Local media reported that the lady was eventually removed from the flight had forced to book another ticket once she had regained her composure.
The tantrum comes amid an increase in the number of incidents that have caused flights to be disrupted or even grounded because of passenger behaviour.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency notes an increase in the number of flights being disrupted and the severity of disruptions since 2020.
Additionally, data provided by the International Air Transport Association estimates that there was one disruptive incident for every 480 flights worldwide in 2023, an increase from one in 568 flights in 2022.
Earlier this year, the boss of Ryanair vowed to pursue disruptive passengers through the courts to reclaim the cost of flights being delayed, cancelled or grounded as a result of passenger behaviour.
Michael O’Leary told Sky News: “If passengers continue disrupting our flights, we will sue you for the cost of those diversions and those disruptions.”
He added: “We’re having two or three of these diversions a week.”