MALAYSIA: A heated incident unfolded on Sunday (5 Jan) aboard Batik Air flight OD-572, travelling from Hanoi to Kuala Lumpur, when a female passenger refused to fasten her seatbelt, sparking a confrontation with the cabin crew.
The incident was captured on video and uploaded to TikTok, garnering more than 24.7 million views.
The footage shows the passenger becoming confrontational with cabin crew members who were enforcing mandatory seatbelt requirements before takeoff.
According to reports, the passenger, believed to be Vietnamese, accused a flight attendant of pointing a finger at her face, prompting her to refuse repeated instructions to fasten her seatbelt.
Despite the passenger’s defiance, the flight attendant remained firm, explaining the importance of safety for everyone onboard.
“Stop yelling at me! This is for safety purposes, not just for you but also for your child,” the crew member said in the video.
As the situation escalated, Batik Air decided to involve airport authorities.
According to the video uploader, officials boarded the plane to address the matter.
The cabin crew also sought statements from other passengers to gain a clearer understanding of the events.
Ultimately, the disruptive passenger was escorted off the flight, with her companion also being removed.
Netizens Criticise Passenger and Praise Cabin Crew’s Handling of Incident
The video of the incident garnered over 20.5 thousand comments, with many netizens criticising the passenger for her behaviour.
One user wrote, “What is the problem? You just need to use the seatbelt.”
Another commented, “What is wrong with people?? You just need to put on the seatbelt; it’s not hard and not wasting time.”
Some netizens approached the situation humorously, suggesting that the passenger need not wear a seatbelt if she sat outside the plane.
One user quipped, “You may be able to not wear the seatbelt, but you sit on the plane tail.”
One user joked that the cabin crew only asked her to wear the seatbelt, not to be a pilot.
In contrast, many users praised the cabin crew for their professionalism during the tense encounter.
One commented, “Respect for the cabin crew. Thankfully it’s not me who had to deal with it.”
Another user remarked, “Respect for the cabin crew for not getting angry back; if it was me, I’d already be furious.”
Batik Air’s Official Statement
Batik Air’s Corporate Communications Strategist, Danang Mandala Prihantoro, confirmed that the passenger was removed from the plane before takeoff.
He explained that the incident occurred as part of routine safety checks conducted by the cabin crew, in accordance with established protocol.
“During the inspection, the cabin crew found a customer who did not follow the safety rules because she was not wearing her seatbelt,” Danang said in a statement on Monday (6 Jan).
He further clarified that despite multiple requests from the crew, the passenger refused to comply with the safety requirement.
As a result, the passenger and her companion were categorized as exhibiting “Inappropriate Behaviour to Cabin Crew” and were asked to disembark before the flight’s departure.
Danang also reminded passengers to adhere to flight rules and cabin crew instructions for the safety and smooth operation of the flight, emphasising that safety is Batik Air’s top priority.
“Batik Air is committed to continuing to provide the best service while prioritising the safety and comfort of all customers,” he added, expressing gratitude for the cooperation of passengers in complying with flight regulations.
