Luxury Handbag Sparks Hour-Long Flight Delay

Flight delays can happen for a variety of reasons, but no one expected the bizarre incident that recently unfolded in China.

According to local reports, a woman in China refused to store her designer handbag under her seat, claiming it was simply too expensive, leading to a one-hour delay. The incident occurred on August 10 when a flight departing from southwest China had already taken off. Due to the woman's insistence, the plane had to return to the airport, where police escorted her off as the other passengers applauded.

When footage of the incident hit the Chinese social media app Douyin, it went viral immediately. The video, uploaded by a fellow passenger, has garnered over 4 million views, sparking heated online discussions. One of the passengers, who wished to remain anonymous, reported that the woman was seated in economy class and insisted on keeping her Louis Vuitton handbag beside her rather than under the seat in front. It's noted that a Louis Vuitton handbag costs around $3,000 in China, while an economy class ticket costs $110.

The airline did not respond to inquiries about the case and has not disclosed what happened after speaking with the passenger. However, the incident drew many reactions on social media. "She valued the bag more than her life," one user commented. "The flight attendant could have offered her a bag to place her handbag in. Was it really necessary to waste an hour and throw her off the plane?" wrote another.