February 17 2009
Viral Tantrum at Hong Kong Airport?
posted by Ana Samways at 9:55 amA hysterical passenger screaming at airline staff and writhing on the floor after missing a flight at Hong Kong airport has become a YouTube hit.
But is it a set up? More exploitation of the unhinged? Or just someone who missed her flight and was very upset about it for a very good reason we’re not privy to?
News story here.
UPDATE! Someone has translated what she is saying….
February 18th, 2009 at 7:23 am
I feel embarrassed for the poor guys with her.
February 18th, 2009 at 8:01 am
How pathetic! I expected to see more people at such an International Airport. Must have been filmed by the same people who did the moon landing film.(plastic Americans)
February 18th, 2009 at 8:56 am
Judging by how some of these people go totally nuts when stopped at customs I’d say it was real, is this the outcome of the one child policy? ie: spoilt
February 18th, 2009 at 9:30 am
Wow Linda. “THESE People”? Let’s just stop and ponder that for a moment.
February 18th, 2009 at 10:07 am
niel, I don’t know if you have been to Hong Kong airport but it is huge and the gate areas are also quite spacious. On top of that, considering the gate had just been closed for take off, why would there be anyone at the gate anyway?
February 18th, 2009 at 11:03 am
“Willie Pipia’s back from injury”. Great!
February 18th, 2009 at 11:39 am
Love the translated version! Go Wellington!!
February 18th, 2009 at 12:11 pm
Given how few people were around, perhaps they should have just walked off and left her alone to get it out of her system.
Or better still, one of the gentlemen could have used that other toddler-taming trick of mimicking her behaviour to show her how ridiculous she looks.
There really is nothing more embarrassing than shrieking, tantrum-throwing adults.
February 18th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
Linda, HK doesnt have a one child policy..
February 18th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
Welcome to my world. This could be my mother-in-law. Drama queen extreme and a very Chinese thing. The movie “the Joy Luck Club” shows it well. The daughter tells her mother how she makes her feel at times and the mother turns it around by grabbing a sharp knife, running out into the street shouting she wants to kill herself. The whole thing gets spun and the daughter is left feeling guilty.
February 18th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
With my vague understanding of cantonese, I’m sure she was saying something about having to go to Wellington because they’ve cheated the rest of the country out of their national treasures and visiting exhibitions… or maybe it was just something about Downbeat.
February 18th, 2009 at 5:00 pm
In the USA she would have been tazered for throwing that tantrum at an airport. That would make it even funnier.
February 18th, 2009 at 7:56 pm
Linda “these people”?.. yes sth to ponder on….
and just my 2 cent, I don’t think its a chinese thing. I guess these sort of silly people/behaviour can exist anywhere in the world.
February 19th, 2009 at 7:34 am
Has anyone considered the translation is not accurate? Duh, if she was that upset she would surely not specify details of the Fringe Festival, ie ‘…cutting edge performance arts, madcap comedy… ‘ I can’t see anyone talking like that unless they were trying to promote it. Maybe someone supporting the Fringe has exploited this unfortunate video clip? Anyone able to sincerely verify the interpretation is accurate? She looks incredibly distressed. Maybe a dying child or a missed funeral could push any of us to that point. Maybe she had been early and had been held up by staff, making her late for boarding. Worth exploring facts, and getting the full, accurate picture.
February 19th, 2009 at 8:39 am
I am amazed at how stupid you all are.
1. Instantly take offense as Linda says “these people”. Get off your high horse and stop trying to play the race card all the time. She may have simply meant, “these people….who act up at airports”
2. The translation is a joke you clowns. It is not a translation, simply someone trying, and I emphasize trying, to be humorous.
February 19th, 2009 at 9:18 am
Oakman: No, Linda specified “these people” from the country that uses the “one child policy”.
I’m with Sue – asshattery is a worldwide epidemic, we’re not immune.
February 19th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
HAHAH Good ad for Wellington City!
February 19th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
I’m not surprised that she wants to go to Wellington.
That’s where all the spoiled children are located.
February 19th, 2009 at 4:08 pm
It’s obviously a joke Helz. Jeez I thought that was obvious.
February 19th, 2009 at 8:26 pm
Helz, Do you really think she would know what a JAFA is? C’mon!
February 19th, 2009 at 10:19 pm
I came here for a laugh, and I got one; and as usual it was the subject that gave me a chuckle and the responses that had me laughing out loud. Well done to you all.
February 20th, 2009 at 12:35 am
yea i think she just yearns to be with her ilk in Wellington….
oooh the hate in here…
February 26th, 2009 at 7:36 pm
helz..lol. of coz we know the interpretation is a joke! hehe.
but you are rite though, i guess most of us are to fast to judge her as being unreasonable – but if in fact she was travelling for some urgent matter i.e. dying child, i can feel her pain.
March 13th, 2009 at 10:10 am
“This video has been making the rounds. Since it was put up, the woman found out about it and complained to the airline about how embarassing it was. They have since fired the worker who filmed this.”
They fired *him*? That lady should have been arrested for disturbing the peace
http://girlrobot.net/2009/03/12/woman-throws-tantrum-after-missing-her-flight/
August 20th, 2009 at 9:15 pm
It just seems unfair on her. We have no way of knowing what was happening, or how important that flight was. How quickly we judge. The worker who filmed it and put it on you tube should be ashamed of themselves. Perhaps she was being unreasonable, but it doesn’t warrant world wide humiliation.