A 71-year-old woman has been banned from flying Tigerair Taiwan after physically assaulting a flight attendant who accidentally bumped into her during a descent, an incident caught on shocking video that has sparked outrage over passenger behavior.
Confrontation Erupts During Safety Checks
The assault occurred on April 3 aboard Tigerair Taiwan flight IT753 traveling from Fukushima, Japan, to Taipei, Taiwan. As the aircraft began its descent, the pilot instructed all passengers to remain seated with seatbelts fastened. The elderly passenger, identified by surname Zhang, ignored the safety directive and stood in the aisle to put on her shoes. A 33-year-old flight attendant, surnamed Liu, was conducting final safety checks when she inadvertently knocked into Zhang while walking down the aisle.
The flight attendant immediately apologized and offered ice packs and medical assistance to Zhang. Despite these efforts, the elderly passenger continued yelling at the crew member. A witness aboard the flight reported that when asked if she needed a doctor, Zhang said her injury was not serious but refused to stop her verbal tirade. The witness praised the flight attendant for maintaining professionalism throughout the confrontation.
Physical Attack Caught On Camera
Video footage captured the moment Zhang slapped the flight attendant across the face, prompting another crew member to cry out in shock. The crew immediately notified authorities at the destination. When the plane landed at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, officers from the Aviation Police Bureau boarded the aircraft and took Zhang into custody. Both Zhang and the flight attendant have filed assault charges against each other, while Liu also plans to pursue legal action for public insult.
Airline Takes Strong Stand
Tigerair Taiwan issued a statement strongly condemning the attack and pledging full legal support for their employee. The airline has permanently placed Zhang on its no-fly list while authorities continue their investigation. The carrier emphasized that crew member safety directly impacts flight safety and vowed to defend its employees’ legal rights. The airline appointed lawyers to assist the flight attendant involved in the incident, sending a clear message about zero tolerance for passenger violence against crew members.
The actions of that 71 year old woman was despicable. She defied the commands of the pilot to remain seated during the landing. The flight attendant was doing her job and the 71 year old woman assaulted her. I’m so glad that the airline is sticking up for their employee. That 71 year old woman should have to shell out big dough to compensate the flight attendant. People learn when they’re hit in their pocket. She should be banned permanently from flying.
I flew for PanAm many years ago. The violence crew members are subjected to today is appalling. It is a sign of the breakdown of society.
We can put our shoes on while siting down with the seat on why was she standing in the aile for?
where is the video