Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to still feel shaken after drunk men made vile comments on Wizz Air flight?

189 replies

morello1 · 02/09/2026 13:41

I think I need a bit of a mum hug, because I keep wanting to cry about something that happened on a flight recently.

I was with my DD9 and there were three very drunk men I'd say early 30s sitting behind her. They'd moved seats during the flight and had been drinking heavily, getting louder and more obnoxious as the flight went on - really vile stuff. She had head phones on so I thought don't start a scene just ignore and get off.

Towards the end though you have to put away devices and as we were standing to get off I pointed at my DD and gave them a pleading sort of look, just so they realised there was a child sitting in front of them. I didn't confront them just guestured.
One of them put his hand on my arm said, “You're right, it's not funny. sorry love”
The other then said grinning:
“It is funny if I rape the fucking kid.”
The first one immediately said he'd gone too far using the “R word”, and they all laughed.

I was completely stunned. I didn't know what to say. I just wanted to get my daughter away from them, so I got her off the plane as quickly as I could. I told the staff as I was leaving that I needed to make a complaint and I was crying at that point but the staff were kids and just looked at me blankly I wanted to get my DD as far away from them as poss as quickly as poss

back in england I've reported it to the police. They initially seemed to take it very seriously, particularly because these were three drunk men on a flight making an explicit comment about a child. I've got a crime reference number and the airport police have contacted Wizz Air.
It seems to be difficult to identify the men because they'd moved seats during the flight, and the police are having difficulty getting the booking/payment details relating to the seat changes. They haven't said it's closed, but I have a new officer who gives the impression they were trying to manage my expectations.

I've also complained to Wizz Air and, despite sending everything they've asked for and chasing them twice, they've basically not responded. ZERO.

And now I don't know whether I should just leave it.
I keep thinking I should have done something differently. Got the cabin crew details. Confronted them. Made more of a fuss. But honestly, I was shocked and my only thought was getting my DD away from them and fast.

I know I've reported it and I've done what I can. But I can't seem to stop replaying it.
How do you actually move on from something like this? Would you keep pursuing it, or would you draw a line under it and try to forget about it?
I think I just need some mums to tell me I'm not being ridiculous for still being really really upset about it.

OP posts:
MauriceTheMussel · 02/09/2026 23:27

OP, if you tweet about this, maybe you could do it with a new handle (if you don’t want to out yourself) and then post it here and we can all retweet for you?

mrlistersgelfbride · 02/09/2026 23:09

So sorry OP, this is horrible.
Ive a DD that age and my blood runs cold just reading about what happened.
For what it’s worth I would have reacted the same as you- I’d be shocked, scared and probably crying- rightly or wrongly, I was always taught ‘never to make a scene’.
You handled this very well. I hope your DD is ok.
Write to the CEO, head of customer service, every contact email you can find for Wizz air.
Share details of everything on social media, to the local paper , do everything you can to find this cunt.
I’ll never fly with Wizz air and i’ll be telling my friends and family not to either.
I hope karma bites this vile specimen on the arse.
Sending hugs to you and your daughter.

Mabiscuit · 02/09/2026 22:25

On a couple of Jet 2 flights (Malaga) I've seen the captain holding back and dealing with drunk men at the end of the flights. I wouldn't want to fly Wizz Air after hearing this behaviour wasn't reported by staff during the flight to the captain.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 02/09/2026 21:57

Mooselander · 02/09/2026 13:44

You just need to move on. Some people are dicks 🤷‍♀️

They used the R word about a child. That’s certainly not something to be shrugging your shoulders about. Being drunk and causing a ruckus using bad language is one thing making jokes about r a child is very very very much another

DiscourteousDiana · 02/09/2026 21:56

Balloonhearts · 02/09/2026 20:41

Same. I'd have called the police then and there and demand security detain them for threatening to rape my 9 year old. If this didn't happen, it would be me getting arrested because I'd have hurt them.

Try posting it as publicly as possible on social media or approaching a newspaper. Shame them into responding.

Show quote history

Same. We would all be getting taken off the plane in cuffs if they dared have said that in front of me.

OP, I can’t believe nobody else on the plane said anything to them, did other people hear that comment?!

Original poster
morello1 · 02/09/2026 21:48

VC10vTristar · 02/09/2026 18:09

Following a distressing incident myself I have resolved in future my own plan would be to speak to the senior cabin steward and ask that the Captain be advised and that police be requested to meet the aircraft on arrival - no one gets off, the police come aboard. But at the time I froze…. I’ve subsequently been in situations where we as passengers have told spooked crew that we will act with them and for them (potential terrorists aboard), and on other flights have discreetly made crew aware if anyone is behaving suspiciously.

Thank you for this I did freeze I was in total shock as I suppose they had intended

and thanks everyone for your support. Do feel beyond furious I’m sick of the “manosphere” the female police officer who called me back used that word to describe the surge in aggression in public towards women that she is dealing with daily but found this deeply troubling herself too.

I do know not much will come of it but I’m so angry the airline has blanked me for weeks now. After the weekend they will be outside their advertised time scale of dealing with customer complaints so I will be able to escalate it with them.

Also the police confirmed it didn’t make a difference if they were looking into to also and that I could should still pursue it with Wizz. Some good thoughts here about ways to do that and bypass the normal official complaint channels so I’ll think about that now too like tagging the airline in a tweet etc

I feel stupid for not getting images of them but at the point of the incident I was standing and getting my stuff as I’d endured them for the flight and was ready to get the hell away from them I just didn’t expect this turn it caught me so off guard especially as one of them had “sided” with me and laid his hand on my arm as a sort of yes you are right dear patronising gesture

im so sad to hear other stories here also thank you for sharing everyone who has it leaves such a long bad taste in your mouth

OP posts:
Original poster
morello1 · 02/09/2026 21:32

GrantMyWishes · 02/09/2026 18:02

Sorry haven't read the full thread, but have read OP's responses, and would just like to ask the OP, whether it occurred to her at any point that she and her DD could have gone and sat in the seats that the 3 men had moved from when she realised that they were going to be a nuisance? I know that it makes zero difference now, but just wondered if it crossed her mind, as in a situation like that, that's the first thing I would have done, as I'd do anything to get away from obnoxious people on a flight.

I didn’t want to move the flight was full apart from the extra leg room seats that these men moved to so they could sit together- they were also in a bigger group split up so moving would have meant me and my daughter would be separated and possibly ended up with one of their mates that they were walking back and forth from from time to time

OP posts:
user1471497170 · 02/09/2026 20:42

morello1 · 02/09/2026 13:57

that was my instinct too but protecting my dd and getting them far away from them as possible was my goal at that point while trying to keep her as oblivious as possible to it all - I didn't really want to pick a fight with 3 tall drunk men in a confined space. it was a judgment call.

Show quote history

You did the right thing prioritising getting your daughter away without escalating things. I would have been frightened and done the same. I'm so sorry this happened to you.

Balloonhearts · 02/09/2026 20:41

Saltysweetspicy · 02/09/2026 13:47

I mean I wouldn't have reacted how you did. I would have VERY loudly asked him to repeat what he just said, I would have made it into a thing, I wouldn't have been able to help myself. I would have asked him if it was a threat and I would have ask cabin crew to call security.

I'm not saying this is right, I just know that is how I would have reacted.

However, you can't go back and change it. I know it's difficult but you need to try to move on now.

Same. I'd have called the police then and there and demand security detain them for threatening to rape my 9 year old. If this didn't happen, it would be me getting arrested because I'd have hurt them.

Try posting it as publicly as possible on social media or approaching a newspaper. Shame them into responding.

Abitlosttoday · 02/09/2026 20:33

Saltysweetspicy · 02/09/2026 13:47

I mean I wouldn't have reacted how you did. I would have VERY loudly asked him to repeat what he just said, I would have made it into a thing, I wouldn't have been able to help myself. I would have asked him if it was a threat and I would have ask cabin crew to call security.

I'm not saying this is right, I just know that is how I would have reacted.

However, you can't go back and change it. I know it's difficult but you need to try to move on now.

You don't always know how you would react in the same situation. I froze when I was sexually assaulted. Would have sworn I would fight before it happened. With a child in a threatening situation, your instinct may be to go small for protection.

Chilihealer · 02/09/2026 20:21

You did the right thing by getting her out the way and staying calm. I fear I’d have chosen violence in this situation and flew for the cunt, probably ended up arrested myself. Keep chasing it up it can’t be that hard to trace them!

Usefuladvice · 02/09/2026 20:20

So sorry OP. Keep on at the airline. Do you have Social media could you make a post about it.
He's a disgusting vile man. Is your DD OK?

ilbehonest · 02/09/2026 20:16

umm what the actual fuck.

If someone said that in ear shot regardless of if it was towards my child or someone else's or even just to other adults I would have absolutely made a scene. I just would.

if it was directed at my child id have raised hell on earth. Idc if I inconvenience the flight crew the other passengers or delay a flight if you talk about fucking raping my child or ANY child I would make sure the whole fucking plane new about it so they know what a disgusting pig has been sat amongst us.

That's what I'd have done.

it's too late now but I wouldn't drop it and get over it. sorry but you do not know who has potential to do shit like that and I wouldn't let it slide. Id actually want him to be on the sex offenders register. I'm very OTT about stuff like that coz you know it isn't funny is it it's disgusting and people like that do exist amongst us and they need to be called out shamed and have consequences.

no normal person jokes about that even when they are drunk. dirty bastard.

HeyPrune · 02/09/2026 20:15

Well done for reporting it. That is horrendous - far, far beyond banter or a joke. I hope your daughter is okay.

I have never flown Wizz Air and never will, having heard how they have failed to respond to you and how they served already drunk men.

As you have already tried quietly, I would contact them publicly on Twitter about this, or contact your MP.

LoudSnoringDog · 02/09/2026 20:13

I honestly would have made a huge fucking scene about this and really drawn attention to them.

ThreeLocusts · 02/09/2026 20:09

What a nightmare, what nasty pricks.

I think you need to distinguish two things. One is how you can chase up whizzair and/or the police. Some good suggestions up thread.

But stopping yourself replaying the scene and losing the feeling of violation may be a separate issue. And it's hard to advise on. I'd curse and listen to some dark music. And talk to friends. Hope you find something that works.

Naunet · 02/09/2026 19:54

As someone who was abused as a child, I would have lost my fucking mind, I'm shaking with adrenaline having only read what happened, never mind being there; but you reacted much, much more sensibly. I would though do everything in my power to try and get him held to account in any way I could, even though the chances of getting anywhere are slim. Absolute scum.

MaggieBsBoat · 02/09/2026 19:11

VC10vTristar · 02/09/2026 18:09

Following a distressing incident myself I have resolved in future my own plan would be to speak to the senior cabin steward and ask that the Captain be advised and that police be requested to meet the aircraft on arrival - no one gets off, the police come aboard. But at the time I froze…. I’ve subsequently been in situations where we as passengers have told spooked crew that we will act with them and for them (potential terrorists aboard), and on other flights have discreetly made crew aware if anyone is behaving suspiciously.

Gosh you seem to be cursed. I’ve been on many hundreds of flights and never an incident.

GeorgeMichaelsCat · 02/09/2026 18:59

JudgeJ · 02/09/2026 15:08

This is Whizz Air, probably the lowest of the low budget airlines, not likely to be remotely concerned as long as the staff manage to sell a lot of beer.

Show quote history

Worrying they do not value passenger safety more. Three men that drunk could be a disaster in the making.

HoldingOnForABuyer · 02/09/2026 18:35

abathofmilkwithladydi · 02/09/2026 17:48

No way would I let this go. No way. I’d be all over social media, I’d make it my mission to hunt this man down and let his work, his parents, his partner and any kids know what he says about raping children when he’s had a few beers. I would not rest.

I hope you take this as far as it can go and I’m so sorry this happened to you and your daughter.

Me too - I’d share the flight date, time, destination and flight number. Someone will recognise their partner, husband, friend, or son. Let social media do the only thing it’s good for! Disgusting men like that deserve a public shaming.

queenMab99 · 02/09/2026 18:27

If the police 'can't trace the men' when the security for getting on a plane is so strict and takes so long, I would be wondering if the men were actually police themselves............

maddiemookins16mum · 02/09/2026 18:12

I hate to say this but Wizz Air are not a UK airline, I think they may be Hungarian. This won’t help with trying to get them onboard. It sounds awful and distressing.

VC10vTristar · 02/09/2026 18:09

Following a distressing incident myself I have resolved in future my own plan would be to speak to the senior cabin steward and ask that the Captain be advised and that police be requested to meet the aircraft on arrival - no one gets off, the police come aboard. But at the time I froze…. I’ve subsequently been in situations where we as passengers have told spooked crew that we will act with them and for them (potential terrorists aboard), and on other flights have discreetly made crew aware if anyone is behaving suspiciously.

Scarydinosaurs · 02/09/2026 18:05

Not the same as you, but similar happened to me on a flight. I alerted the cabin crew and the pilot called the police and the man was taken off the flight when we landed. It was all discrete and he never knew I’d reported him until he was taken off, and then I had officers with me until I left the airport.

I would say I hope this never happens to you again, but if it did, acting in the moment means you have the best chance of them being identified.

GrantMyWishes · 02/09/2026 18:02

Sorry haven't read the full thread, but have read OP's responses, and would just like to ask the OP, whether it occurred to her at any point that she and her DD could have gone and sat in the seats that the 3 men had moved from when she realised that they were going to be a nuisance? I know that it makes zero difference now, but just wondered if it crossed her mind, as in a situation like that, that's the first thing I would have done, as I'd do anything to get away from obnoxious people on a flight.