The footage shows the three-year-old climbing over seats and screaming before the flight from Germany to New York had even taken off.

The video was uploaded to YouTube by Shane Townley who wrote: “Watch as this kid runs and screams throughout the entire flight while the mother does little to nothing to stop him. 3 years old on a 8 hour flight from Germany to Newark NJ. He never quits!”

Now most people could understand that being in a plane might be stressful for a young child and it could take him a while to settle down.

But it eventually became clear to passengers that this kid wasn’t going to be happy sitting down and watching a movie, as he continued his rampage for nearly the whole trip.

It is unclear from the video whether the has behavioural issues and there is no indication that the mum informed other passengers that he suffering from any condition that may have resulted in his distress.

At one point the child is seen sitting on top of the seats and banging on the ceiling of the plane as his mum tries to get him to sit down.

Throughout the hourly updates passengers can be seen covering their ears as the child continues to scream at the top of his lungs.

The video seemed to have split public opinions between those who sympathised with the child’s parents, and those who believed there was excuse for a child to carry on like that.

“Another useless parent who thinks her kid is entitled to annoy the world. She ought to be fined heavily, that will make her do something next time,” one Facebook commentator wrote.

Said another: “Disgusting display by both child. and the mother for her lack of at least trying to ‘control’ her child.”

But others said “kids will be kids”.

“I’m sure it was annoying. Just wondering exactly how anyone thinks she could stop it? I’ve got one who would scream I’m sure so we just don’t fly anywhere. Other than sedation stopping a child screaming isn’t easy,” a Facebook user wrote.