Overview

• Pat McAuliffe, a Barstool Sports contributor, posted three X videos from a delayed Delta flight complaining the infant had been crying for over two hours and questioning when it would become a medical emergency.
• McAuliffe urged parents to distract the baby with smartphone content and recommended walking the child up and down the aisle to soothe it.
• The initial video has amassed more than 15 million views and generated a split online reaction, with some users decrying his approach and others sympathizing with his discomfort.
• The episode has reignited broader discussions about passenger frustrations, cabin conditions on delayed flights and parental responsibility in managing crying infants.
• Observers point to past incidents—such as a 2023 Southwest Airlines confrontation—and proposals for child-free flights as part of ongoing debates over how to balance family needs and traveler comfort.