China Eastern reports passenger to police over cabin crew kneeling row

China Eastern Airlines has reported a male passenger to the police following an incident on a flight from Hefei to Dalian. The flight attendant was filmed kneeling in the aisle to apologize for accidentally bumping the passenger's elbow with a service trolley during the drinks service. The passenger became agitated, using offensive language and threatening to kick the flight attendant.

China Eastern stated that the passenger's actions were a severe infringement on the employee's dignity and amounted to disturbing order aboard the aircraft. The airline banned the individual from flying with them. Footage of the incident, filmed by another passenger, sparked debate about the pressure cabin crew face due to complaint-driven evaluation systems that impact their performance ratings and career advancement opportunities.

The Chinese Communist Party's official newspaper emphasized that the passenger's relentless demands after the flight attendant's apologies were beyond legitimate rights protection and violated the passenger's personal dignity. Under Chinese civil aviation laws, verbal abuse or assault of crew members and provoking trouble aboard civil aircraft are strictly prohibited.