“Spoiled Little Monster”: Disruptive Kid Tests People’s Patience On Plane, One Has Had Enough

Air travel is complicated, a miracle of engineering and human logistics, to such a degree that often enough, the number one irritation is how other passengers behave. The rowdy travelers, the night time snorers and the person seemingly has never been on a plane before are common irritants, but nothing strikes more fear into a traveler than a child.

A man asked the internet if he was wrong to tell a loud, spoiled and obnoxious child to shut up after he wouldn’t stop yelling on a flight. We reached out to the man who made the post via private message and will update the article when he gets back to us.

Sometimes passengers manage to be louder than the multiple jet engines on a plane

Man on plane covering face in frustration while sitting next to window, upset after telling disruptive kid to shut up.

Image credits: Dragana Stock (not the actual image)

So one man had enough and he decided to tell a child to just shut up

Man tells disruptive kid to shut up on plane, causing upset with the child's mother during flight conflict.

Disruptive kid shouting on plane, causing chaos and upsetting mom during flight with behavior issues.

Man tells disruptive kid on a plane to shut up, causing tension with the upset mother during the flight.

Crying distressed child covering face with hands, representing disruptive kid on a plane upsetting others around.

Image credits: romanshyshak (not the actual image)

Man tells disruptive kid on a plane to be quiet, sparking conflict with the upset mom during the flight landing wait.

Man tells disruptive kid on plane to shut up, sparking upset reaction from the mom during a noisy flight incident.

Text excerpt discussing a man telling a disruptive kid on a plane to shut up, upsetting the mom.

Young disruptive kid on a plane adjusting seatbelt with upset mom and another child in the background

Image credits: ASphotostudio (not the actual image)

Text image showing a statement about telling a disruptive kid on a plane to shut up, sparking a mom's upset reaction.

Text discussing flight duration and waiting times on a plane before departure, during, and after landing.

Man tells disruptive kid on plane to be quiet, causing upset with the mother during a flight disturbance.

Image credits: Mytzu

Flying can often be uncomfortable even when everything goes right

Air travel brings out the best and worst in humanity, usually within the same cramped row of seats. Everyone has their list of common irritations, the person who claims both armrests like a territorial emperor, the seat-kicker who thinks the back of the chair is a footrest, the neighbor who believes airplane mode is optional, and the mysterious passenger who somehow manages to unwrap a vile-smelling sandwich with the sound of industrial-strength bubble wrap. Add in crying babies, overhead bin wars, and the eternal struggle of the reclining seat, and a flight becomes less a journey and more a crash course in patience.

Among the most discussed inflight challenges is the presence of young children. Babies cry because their ears hurt, toddlers wiggle because sitting still for hours is impossible, and older kids sometimes discover the joy of tapping the tray table at rhythmic intervals. None of this is malicious, kids are just being kids in a situation that even adults find uncomfortable. That said, there is a balance to strike. Parents on planes have both the toughest job and a certain responsibility, to do what they reasonably can to minimize disruption to fellow passengers. For example, if a child is kicking the seat in front of them, like in this story, the parents really should intervene.

That responsibility doesn’t mean producing angelic silence for eight hours straight (no human under the age of twelve is capable of this). It means preparation and effort: bringing snacks, toys, headphones, and maybe even the magical tablet loaded with cartoons. It means a quick apology if little feet start pounding the seatback, and a friendly attempt to redirect the energy. It means being visible, other passengers are far more forgiving when they see a parent trying than when they see one scrolling blissfully while chaos unfolds.

Image credits: Dragana Stock (not the actual image)

Parents should actually parent their children

Most travelers understand that kids will make noise, but what tests patience is when parents make no attempt to prevent it at all. The flip side, of course, is that passengers without children have a role too, offering a little empathy and remembering that everyone was once the screaming baby on the flight. A smile, a helping hand with dropped toys, or simply resisting the exaggerated sigh goes a long way toward easing the tension. After all, some adults break the regular rules of airplane etiquette and a select few even record themselves doing it.

It’s also worth remembering that it could be worse. A child being loud is annoying, but at the very least, they can be given the benefit of the doubt. For example, instead of a crying baby or loud child, the disruption could be some fully grown adults throwing down in the airplane isles. This is commonly called “air rage,” a phenomenon where people are unable to hold back their emotions and decide that thousands of feet above the air is the best place for a brawl.

At the end of the day, planes are shared spaces where dozens or hundreds of strangers are stuck in a metal tube with limited legroom and questionable coffee. Small irritations are inevitable, but they’re also survivable, especially if everyone remembers that courtesy runs both ways. Parents who make the effort, and passengers who meet that effort with patience, keep the skies just a little friendlier.

Image credits: dmytro_sidelnikov (not the actual image)

The man chatted with some of the readers in the comments

Reddit user discusses telling disruptive kid on a plane to shut up, sparking upset from the mom during the flight.

Screenshot of a Reddit discussion about a man telling a disruptive kid on a plane to shut up upsetting the mother.

Online discussion about man telling disruptive kid on plane to shut up, upsetting the mom, with varied opinions on trauma and behavior.

Reddit users debate a man telling a disruptive kid on a plane to shut up, sparking controversy with the mom involved.

Online discussion about man telling disruptive kid on plane to shut up, upsetting the mom, and potential trauma debate.

Some folks thought he was being reasonable

Reddit comment discussing a man telling a disruptive kid on a plane to shut up, upsetting the mom.

Comment from a special education teacher discussing a disruptive kid on a plane and a man telling him to shut up.

Screenshot of a forum comment discussing a disruptive kid on a plane and the mom’s reaction to a man telling the child to be quiet.

Text comment from user justhatcedtoday questioning age difference between kids amid trauma and disruptive kid on plane discussion.

Man telling disruptive kid on a plane to be quiet, causing tension with the upset mom during the flight.

Man on plane telling disruptive kid to be quiet, causing upset reaction from the mother during the flight.

Reddit comment about a man telling a disruptive kid on a plane to be quiet, upsetting the mother, with 121 points.

Man tells disruptive kid on plane to be quiet, sparking conflict with the child's mom over parenting and trauma claims.

Reddit comment discussing a man telling a disruptive kid on a plane to be quiet, upsetting the mom.

Man tells disruptive kid on plane to shut up, sparking tension with the upset mom during flight conversation.

Reddit comment discussing a man telling a disruptive kid on a plane to shut up, upsetting the mom.

Reddit comment explaining setting boundaries with a disruptive kid on a plane, upsetting the mom.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussing a man telling a disruptive kid on a plane to be quiet, upsetting the mom.

Man tells disruptive kid on plane to be quiet, causing conflict with upset mother during the flight.

Reddit comment discussing disruptive kid on a plane and mom’s reaction while suggesting intervention options.

Comment on disruptive kid on plane telling to shut up, causing upset and doubts about trauma creation.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussing a man telling a disruptive kid on a plane to be quiet, upsetting the mom.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment with user expressing support in a discussion about a man telling a disruptive kid on a plane to shut up.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment sharing an experience with a disruptive kid and authority in a waiting room.

Comment thread discussing a man telling a disruptive kid on a plane to be quiet and the mom's upset reaction.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussing how a man told a disruptive kid on a plane to be quiet, upsetting the mom.

Comment discussing a man telling a disruptive kid on a plane to shut up, upsetting the mom and passengers.

A few thought he was perhaps too harsh

Reddit comment discussing a man telling a disruptive kid on a plane to be quiet, upsetting the mom.

Reddit comment criticizing a man for telling a disruptive kid on a plane to shut up, upsetting the mom.

Comment discussing a man telling a disruptive kid on a plane to shut up, upsetting the mom, highlighting neurodivergence.

Comment about a man telling a disruptive kid on a plane to shut up, causing upset to the mom.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussing a man telling a disruptive kid on a plane to shut up, upsetting the mom.

Reddit user discusses telling disruptive kid on a plane to be quiet, sparking conflict with the mom over trauma concerns.

Text comment from user Tired_And_Honest questioning man telling disruptive kid on plane to shut up, sparking controversy with upset mom.

Man confronts disruptive kid on plane, telling the child to be quiet, causing upset with mother nearby.

Man tells disruptive kid to shut up on plane, causing conflict with upset mom during a tense flight situation.

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