Social media has unleashed a torrent of mockery towards a young influencer who recorded herself in a state of panic during a Singapore Airlines flight, screaming due to turbulence. However, there’s a deeper story behind Mia You, a 27-year-old Korean national residing in Singapore, which sheds light on her intense fear of flying.
Just six days ago, Mia shared a TikTok video titled "What I ate on the flight: anxious flyer edition," which quickly gained traction, amassing over 25 million views.
In the video, we see Mia aboard a Singapore Airlines flight in Business Class, with her camera focused on her reaction as the turbulence began. As she screamed and cried, she later added in a voiceover, "Basically, it felt like the plane dipped and I screamed my lungs out. I’m truly sorry to everyone on that plane because, more than the turbulence itself, I think I scared everyone even more with my reaction."
She continued, "I know I might seem overly dramatic for screaming like that, but you won’t believe it—food was flying down the aisle! This wasn’t just mild turbulence!" Despite her self-aware apology, many internet users were not sympathetic; instead, they created parody videos and criticized her for her response.
What many of these commentators failed to realize is that Mia had previously endured a traumatic experience during a different flight. In May 2024, she was involved in a severe turbulence incident on Singapore Airlines flight SQ-321 from London Heathrow. This tragic event resulted in one passenger's death due to a heart attack and left numerous others, including Mia, with serious injuries. The Boeing 777-300 encountered extreme G-forces, propelling unbuckled passengers into the air before slamming them back down onto the cabin floor.
In a follow-up video on TikTok, Mia clarified, "For those who can’t relate, let me share how I developed my fear. I was on this flight with extreme turbulence where over 100 people were injured and there was one fatality. At that time, I was in the bathroom and ended up fracturing my spine. Honestly, I couldn’t even process that we were experiencing turbulence; I thought the plane was going down."
Mia continued, "For anyone who thinks it’s easy to film while having a meltdown, just so you know, it took me two years to get to this point." She explained that she edited the video for fun but felt that perhaps she had shared too much, leading some viewers to doubt the authenticity of her experience.
Strangely enough, even after Mia provided this context, along with images of her recovery in the hospital, criticism continued. Some commenters accused her of being "performative" and questioned how she could still have a fear of flying if she chose to board another plane.
One commenter defended Mia passionately, stating, "The lack of empathy is astonishing. This woman is grappling with PTSD from her past trauma. Not everyone reacts the same way in similar situations." Another pointed out the hypocrisy of people advocating for mental health awareness while simultaneously criticizing Mia. "People say ‘Mental health matters and shouldn’t be stigmatized!’ until it’s a girl sharing her experience on TikTok. You really don’t know what someone is going through. Everyone has their own ways of perceiving events. You won’t understand a panic attack until you experience one yourself."
As we dissect this situation, it raises important questions about the reactions we have towards others’ emotional responses and the empathy we extend to those who have faced traumatic experiences. What do you think? Is it fair to judge someone’s reaction to fear based on your own experiences? Let's discuss in the comments!
