TAIPEI, Taiwan – A China Airlines flight from Taiwan to Guangzhou was delayed for more than two hours after a female passenger reportedly became distressed, shouted inside the cabin and demanded to move to business class, claiming she suffered from claustrophobia. The incident occurred aboard China Airlines flight CI521, scheduled to depart Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport for Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport at 2:10 p.m. on August 31. According to accounts from passengers, everyone had boarded and the aircraft was taxiing on the runway preparing for takeoff when the woman began shouting.
She reportedly said she was having a panic attack and asked to see a doctor to determine whether she was fit to fly. She also asked whether she could pay to upgrade her seat to business class.
With no doctor on board, cabin crew attempted to calm her and reportedly suggested that she leave the aircraft and rest until she felt better before continuing her journey. The situation reportedly became increasingly heated, with the woman claiming that China Airlines was forcing her to leave the aircraft. Some passengers reportedly sided with the crew, saying staff had remained calm while attempting to manage the situation.
The disruption continued long enough for ground staff to locate and remove the woman’s luggage from the aircraft’s baggage hold before the flight could depart. Other passengers were left waiting aboard while the situation was resolved. The aircraft eventually closed its doors and departed at around 4 p.m., more than two hours after its scheduled departure time. The delay reportedly frustrated other passengers who faced the possibility of missing connecting flights, business appointments and holiday plans. The incident has also drawn attention online because of the unusual combination of a claimed fear of enclosed spaces and a request to move to the more expensive business-class cabin rather than leave the aircraft.
