A child whose mother asked for help because the kid was fighting her and totally out of control.

I don’t think you can reasonably expect people to sit there and do nothing in a situation where a 13 year old boy is overpowering his mother and kicking airplane windows.

Wouldn't choke a child, but restraining and talking to him might/should help.

Yeah for sure. When I said I’d have zero hesitation choking someone out in my other comment I meant in a situation in which they could not be restrained. Teenage boys can be pretty big and strong, unlikely at 13 but some 16 year olds can be 6 feet tall and 180lbs.

Like I’m definitely not sitting there going “oh well I guess since we couldn’t hold them down well just have to hope the window doesn’t break”.

At the end of the day:

It was still a child. The airplane windows should hold. Restraints are fine, if you really need them. Duct tape, though?

It was still a child. Even at 13.