‘Distract Him, Do Something:' US Man Loses His Cool Over Crying Baby In Flight

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Pat McAuliffe, a contributor for Barstool Sports, posted a series of videos from a delayed Delta flight where a baby could be heard crying in the background.
Travelling with kids can be tough, especially when they get cranky mid-air. A recent Delta Airlines flight episode took the discomfort up a notch when a baby's crying triggered a strong reaction from a fellow passenger, and an even louder conversation online.
Pat McAuliffe, a contributor for Barstool Sports, posted videos from a delayed Delta flight where a baby's wails echoed through the cabin. The aircraft hadn't taken off yet and reportedly had no air conditioning, compounding the frustration.
Visibly annoyed, McAuliffe captioned one clip: 'If your child is screaming on a flight (that's late with no AC and hasn't taken off yet @Delta), show it a f***ing phone. Brain rot the baby on TikTok until it's quiet. Is that too much to ask?"
He continued to chronicle the baby's cries throughout the extended delay. In a follow-up clip, McAuliffe wrote, 'I do feel bad for the parents, but at some point you gotta try something new… Walk him up and down the aisle, distract him, do something. It's still going on. Simply praying it'll stop is not acceptable."
In another post, he questioned whether the prolonged crying should be considered a 'medical emergency," as the child was crying for two hours. 'Also, why are these people not at least talking to their kid to soothe him? STAND UP AND WALK HIM AROUND," McAuliffe concluded.
@Delta) show it a fucking phone. Brain rot the baby on TikTok until it's quiet. Is that too much to ask? pic.twitter.com/ZPQa8EerFw — Pat (@BarstoolPAT) June 7, 2025
Social media users were left divided on Mr McAuliffe's posts. Many users called out McAuliffe's lack of empathy, while a portion of the internet echoed McAuliffe's frustration, suggesting that parents should better prepare their children for flights.
'Sounds like you're crying louder than the baby," read a comment.
'As a parent of three, put on your noise-cancelling headphones and enjoy the flight. Those parents are in absolute hell," a comment read.
'I can guarantee you that the parent is stressing out way more than you flying by yourself with earbuds in. Grow up," said a user.
A user stated, 'I agree. This is the parents' fault. I have two and we can entertain our babies on the plane."
'Is it too much to ask to buy proper noise-cancelling headphones..?" another added.
An account remarked, 'Bro, if this is the worst thing in your life, consider yourself lucky. Man up and see if the mom is okay and if she needs anything. She is probably trying her best."
'A responsible parent would consult a pediatrician before the flight for tips on making a baby comfortable with flying," wrote another.
This incident comes months after a heartwarming moment on a Delhi to Bengaluru flight went viral. A couple traveling with their newborn thoughtfully planned something special for their fellow passengers. They anticipated that their baby might cry and cause discomfort to the travellers, hence they brought along a small hamper as a token of thanks.
www.reddit.com/r/delhi/comments/1j8tjlb/my_baby_had_his_first_flight
The comfort packs included chocolates, ear plugs, and a sweet note apologising in advance for any 'in-flight drama' and requesting everyone's patience during the journey. Social media users were quite impressed by the wholesome gesture by the couple.
First Published:
June 12, 2025, 16:46 IST