Man Yells At Crying Baby On Southwest Flight From BWI To FL

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — A man losing his cool over a crying baby on a Southwest Airlines flight bound for Florida was captured on video and shared to TikTok by a fellow passenger this week, prompting many to weigh in on the pros and cons of traveling with children.

Mark Grabowski, the passenger who recorded the video, told FOX 35 the plane was headed to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport after departing from Baltimore on Monday but was delayed midflight for an hour due to weather.

In the video viewed more than 225,000 times, the unidentified man released a profanity-laced tirade after a child on the flight wouldn't stop crying.

"That child has been crying for 40 minutes," the man said to flight crew members. "Calm that child down, please."

When attendants asked the man to stop screaming, he replied, "I'm not screaming. You want me to scream? I'll f------ scream. Please stop the baby."

Later in the video, the man continues, "We are in a f------ tin can with a baby in a g--d--- echo chamber and you want to talk to me about being f------ OK?"

At various points during the conversation, flight crew members tried to calm the man before one requested they call authorities.

In an interview with FOX 35, Grabowski said the rant "came out of nowhere."

"It was a little bumpy and uncomfortable for everyone, and the child was upset, but we couldn't get up because of the weather, and we were strapped in our seats," Grabowski said.

The plane was eventually diverted to Orlando. Grabowski told FOX 35 that crew members gave the man the option to get off the plane or let everyone else off and forcibly remove him.

"He chose the latter, and we all got off the plane, and there was a lot of mumbling past him," Grabowski said.

Orlando police confirmed to FOX 35 that the man was escorted off the plane, but no arrests were made.

In a statement provided to ABC News, Southwest Airlines said, "We commend our crew for exhibiting outstanding professionalism while handling a challenging situation and we appreciate the patience of our other customers onboard who had to experience the behavior."

Not everyone thought the man's behavior was inappropriate, according to comments on Grabowski's video. Many agreed with his rant and used the space to air their own grievances about flying with children.

"I'm a parent, and I understand his frustration," one user wrote. "The overstimulation of having to listen to a child scream and cry would be too much."

Another added, "I once took a 4-hour flight & the baby screamed the WHOLE 4 hours. I was mentally losing (it)."

"I loved everything about this video. I would've bought him a drink. I fly all of the time and 45 min of crying is a long time," another user wrote.

Others, on the other hand, weren't so quick to judge.

"Not to mention the fact that the yelling is PROBABLY making the baby cry worse. That poor mama and baby!" one person wrote.

Another user pointed out that "flying with kids can be hard" for both the kids in the parents.

Another person reminded others that sometimes it "takes a village."

"Idk if it's just me, but I always feel compelled to help the mama out," the user wrote. "Takes a village ppl. We were all babies once."