I’m Bethany, a 35-year-old mother, and what should have been a peaceful two-hour flight turned into an absolute disaster, thanks to an entitled woman who thought she could dictate how I parent my child.

My five-year-old daughter, Ella, was sitting quietly next to me, watching her favorite cartoons on her iPad with her headphones on. She was completely engaged, calm, and most importantly, not disturbing anyone. For any parent traveling with a young child, that’s a win. Unfortunately, the woman sitting across the aisle didn’t see it that way.

She leaned over and, with an air of self-importance, said, “Can you put the iPad away? We’re avoiding screens, and it’s upsetting my son.”

I was taken aback. My daughter wasn’t bothering anyone. She wasn’t playing loud music, she wasn’t kicking a seat, she was simply watching a show in her own space. I responded politely but firmly.

“I’m sorry, but she’s using it to stay calm during the flight. It’s not bothering anyone.”

The woman huffed dramatically, her face tightening in irritation. Her son, who hadn’t paid much attention to the iPad before, suddenly started whining loudly.

“I want that! I want the iPad!”

I knew exactly where this was going. The woman looked at me as if expecting me to just hand over my daughter’s device to pacify her child. But that was never going to happen.

“I’m sorry, but she’s using it,” I repeated, making it clear that this discussion was over. I turned back to Ella, hoping to move past the interaction.

But the woman wouldn’t let it go. She crossed her arms, shooting daggers at me while her son continued whining. The tension in the air was thick, but I refused to give her any more attention. My daughter remained focused on her show, unaware of the drama unfolding next to her.

Then, the worst happened.

The woman shifted in her seat and, with a calculated “accidental” motion, knocked Ella’s tray table—sending the iPad crashing to the floor. The moment it hit, a sickening crack filled the air.

My heart dropped.

Ella gasped, her big eyes welling up with tears as she stared at her shattered iPad. Her beloved device—the one thing keeping her happy on this flight—was completely ruined. She turned to me, her lip quivering, looking for reassurance.

I turned to the woman, fury bubbling inside me. “Did you just—”

“Oh! I’m so sorry,” she interrupted, her voice dripping with fake innocence. “That was an accident. These tray tables are just so flimsy, aren’t they?”

I wasn’t buying it for a second. There was a smugness in her expression that she couldn’t quite hide. She knew exactly what she had done, and she was pleased with herself.

“That was not an accident,” I said through clenched teeth. “You did that on purpose.”

She gasped theatrically. “How dare you accuse me of that! I said I was sorry! Besides, kids shouldn’t be on screens all the time anyway—it’s bad for them.”

That was it. I pressed the call button for the flight attendant. When she arrived, I calmly but firmly explained what had happened. The entitled woman immediately went into defense mode, playing the victim, but she didn’t realize that other passengers had seen everything.

A man sitting behind us spoke up, “Yeah, that wasn’t an accident. She did it on purpose.”

The flight attendant frowned, her gaze sharp as she turned to the woman. “Ma’am, damaging another passenger’s property is unacceptable. You will need to provide your contact information so we can address this properly.”

The woman’s face went pale. “That’s ridiculous! I shouldn’t have to pay for her bad parenting choices!”

The flight attendant didn’t budge. “Ma’am, either you provide your details, or we escalate this when we land.”

The woman realized she was out of options. With a scowl, she reluctantly handed over her information, her hands shaking in anger. She was furious, but she had no choice.

Later, the airline confirmed that she would be held responsible for covering the cost of the damage. I made sure to follow up, and within a week, Ella had a brand-new iPad—fully paid for by the woman who thought she could get away with her entitled behavior.

As we exited the plane, the woman gave me one last venomous glare, but I just smiled.

Lesson learned: don’t mess with another parent’s child, especially when you’re in the wrong.

As for Ella? She got a brand-new iPad and a valuable lesson in standing up for herself. And I got the satisfaction of knowing that karma works fast.