Braysen, a 4-year-old autistic boy, was flying from San Diego to Houston on United Airlines when he suffered a meltdown. Luckily, the aircraft's crew and passengers empathized with his situation and offered their help.

The boy's mother, Lori Gabriel of Cypress, Texas, told CNN that Braysen had removed his seat belt before takeoff, insisting that he wanted to sit on the floor. "It was impossible to restrain him. He was fighting both me and his father. It took the both of us to try to get him back to his chair and get his seat belt back on. He started kicking, screaming and hitting," she said. "That's when a flight attendant came over and told us the flight couldn't take off until he's seated."

Lori explained that her son has autism and that they just needed a minute to calm him down. Soon after, the flight attendant returned with two other crew members who asked the mother how they could help. They convinced Braysen to sit on his mother’s lap for takeoff while his father held him. After the seat belt sign was turned off, the frustrated child continued to scream and fight his mother, so the crew allowed him to sit on the floor, besides them. According to his mother, the vibration of the plane made him feel better.

Aside from the crew members, the passengers were also understanding. After Braysen accidentally kicked a passenger’s seat, the woman, a United flight attendant who was off duty, said it was OK if he kicked her feet, according to Lori. A while later, the boy went to first class, where he began kicking a man's seat. The passenger, rather than getting angry, introduced himself and gave the boy high fives.

Other passengers showed the boy pictures on their phones and let him sit beside them. "The flight attendants kept asking if we needed anything, making sure everybody was taken care of," Lori said. After the plane landed, the off-duty flight attendant gave Lori a hug and a note in which she praised the mother for her strength. "You and your family are loved and supported," the note read. "Do not ever let anyone make you feel as though you are an inconvenience or a burden. He is a blessing. God bless your patience, your love, your support and your strength. Continue to be a super woman."

Lori posted the note on Facebook along with pictures of Braysen on the flight. She thanked the airline, which responded, "It sure sounds like Braysen and your family had a great flight. We are happy that our crew was able to make it an enjoyable experience. We are overjoyed to see that we have such loving and supportive passengers on board as well! We look forward to seeing Braysen again soon!"

Lori says that her son loves to fly but that perhaps during this particular flight he was tired since the family was returning from a vacation in San Diego. "I'm just overwhelmed from all this kindness, it makes me want to cry," Lori says. "For the first time, people have been very understanding and helpful about Braysen's autism. It's very promising, we don't have to care about what other people think because there are people who are caring, who understand. It gives me a lot of hope for the future."

RELATED: Heartwarming Pics Show Boy Comforting His Overwhelmed Classmate On First Day Of School

According to the National Autistic Society, people with autism often experience meltdowns, which are “an intense response to overwhelming situations.” A meltdown is not a tantrum, but rather loss of behavioral control due to the inability to express their feelings in an appropriate way. The key is to minimize triggers, such as sensory differences, changes in routine, anxiety, and communication difficulties.