Passenger bites flight attendant on a flight: Here's why

It was supposed to be a routine flight– boarding, seat belts, take-off. But just before a Shenzhen Airlines plane could leave the tarmac for Shanghai, a bizarre fight broke out that left everyone stunned. The reason? A clash over smell. What began as a small argument between two passengers over body smell and strong perfume soon turned into a physical fight– one so intense that a flight attendant trying to step in ended up getting bitten.

Yes, bitten.

Here’s how a disagreement over odour led to hospital visits, police action, and a two-hour flight delay.

Discomfort turns into a physical fight before take-off
According to a report presented by the South China Morning Post, the drama unfolded on April 1, moments before the plane was about to depart from Shenzhen. Two women, seated close to each other, began arguing. One couldn’t handle what she described as unpleasant body odour, while the other shot back, saying her seatmate’s overpowering perfume was the real issue, as per Shenzhen Business News.


The argument got more intense, emotions ran high, and before anyone could react, the two passengers started fighting inside the cabin.

Crew tries to separate them, but one attendant gets bitten
As the situation got out of control, four crew members– two women and two men– quickly stepped in to stop the fight. But in the middle of all the chaos, one of the flight attendants ended up getting hurt in an unexpected way.

According to the South China Morning Post, in a video clip that later spread online, the injured staff member can be heard screaming, “Open your mouth. You have bitten me!” She got hurt on her arm and was quickly taken to the hospital. Luckily, her injuries weren’t serious.

All passengers offloaded, flight delayed for two hours
With the tension in the air (and cabin) running high, all passengers were asked to get off the plane. As per the report, the two women involved in the fight were taken away by local police for further action. Meanwhile, others had to wait for nearly two hours before the flight finally resumed.


Airline speaks out after incident
Shenzhen Airlines later issued a statement urging people to behave responsibly while flying. “Shenzhen Airlines does its best to safeguard the legal rights of both passengers and its employees. We call on passengers to obey the rules and take your trips in a civilised manner,” the airline said, as per the report.

Online reactions: sympathy, anger, and shock
News of the fight sparked a wave of reactions on Chinese social media, where users didn’t hold back their thoughts.

As mentioned in the report, one user commented, “These two women should be blacklisted from taking any planes and trains in the future. Such irrational people will pose a danger in any venue.”

Another added, “How hard an attendant’s job is! I suggested this attendant get some vaccines to make sure she has not been infected by any viruses because of being bitten by the passenger.”


In a nutsell, the incident has sparked new conversations online about how passengers behave on flights and how quickly things can go wrong. Arguments are bound to happen in crowded places, but a full-blown fight– and even someone biting a crew member– was something no one expected.

It also highlights just how tough a flight attendant’s job can be. Even a small issue, a minor complaint, or just a strong smell can suddenly turn a normal day into a headline-making moment.