A bizarre mid-air brawl broke out aboard a Shenzhen Airlines flight on April 1, resulting in a cabin crew member being bitten and another passenger getting scratched. The altercation occurred when two female passengers began arguing over body odour and perfume, escalating into a physical fight just before takeoff.
Fight Over Smell Turns Violent
According to the South China Morning Post, the incident took place on a flight scheduled to depart from Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport for Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport at 5:45 PM local time. The argument began when one woman complained about her seatmate’s body odour, while the other objected to the scent of her perfume. Seated in the same row on the right side of the aircraft, their verbal spat quickly turned into a physical confrontation.
Despite attempts by flight attendants and male passengers to break up the fight, the situation spiraled out of control. In a viral video circulating on social media, a flight attendant can be heard shouting, “Open your mouth. You have bitten me!” after one of the women allegedly bit her on the arm. Another passenger was also scratched during the scuffle.
Police Intervention and Flight Delay
Following the violent altercation, police arrived on the scene and escorted the two disruptive passengers off the aircraft. As a result, all other passengers were temporarily deboarded, leading to a delay of nearly two hours before they could reboard and continue their journey.
Shenzhen Airlines later issued a statement condemning the incident, emphasizing its commitment to ensuring the safety and rights of both passengers and employees. “We call on passengers to obey the rules and take your trips in a civilized manner,” the airline said. Authorities have launched an investigation into the matter, but it remains unclear what punishment the involved passengers will face.
Social Media Outrage
The incident sparked a wave of reactions on social media, with many calling for stronger measures to empower cabin crew to handle unruly passengers. “Cabin crew need to be able to deploy tasers in incidents like this,” one user suggested. Another user expressed concern for the bitten flight attendant, urging her to get vaccinated against potential infections. “How many people does it take to restrain two hysterical women? The staff aren’t trained to deal with situations like these, and they should be,” another user remarked.
Sources By Agencies
