A disruptive passenger was forcibly removed from an AirAsia X flight after allegedly screaming at flight attendants for speaking English and refusing to follow safety instructions. The incident occurred on April 22 aboard a flight from Chongqing, China, to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, causing a nearly two-hour delay.
Chaos Erupts During Cabin Announcements
According to eyewitnesses, the woman jumped to her feet as crew members delivered safety announcements in English and Malay. She reportedly shouted, "Why does an international flight not speak Chinese?" and "I am China!" The situation escalated when she refused to switch her phone to flight mode during taxiing. When another passenger began filming the outburst, the woman became "uncontrollable," claiming to be an off-duty flight attendant for a rival airline and insisting she was "filming a reality show." She demanded an apology from those recording her.
Pilot Returns Plane to Gate
Crew members attempted to calm the woman, but she refused to sit down or comply with instructions. The pilot decided to return the aircraft to the parking bay, and security personnel boarded the plane. The delay lasted nearly two hours before police removed the woman for "disrupting public order on an aircraft." The flight eventually departed at 3:46 a.m. and landed safely in Kuala Lumpur at 8:14 a.m.
Consequences for Passengers
Some passengers missed onward connections and were forced to wait a full day for the next available flights. AirAsia X CEO Benyamin Ismail praised the crew's professionalism, stating, "The pilot made the decision to return to the parking bay for the safety and order of the aircraft." He added that the passenger was removed by local authorities.
Airline Denies Employment Claim
China Southern Airlines denied the woman's claim that she worked for them, stating in a brief announcement, "The person involved is not an employee of our company."
Similar Incident on Jet2 Flight
This incident follows a similar event earlier this year when two passengers were ejected from a Jet2 flight to Manchester after a mid-air brawl. The flight was rerouted to Brussels, and the disruptive passengers were banned for life.
