A British couple were left horrified after their six-year-old son accidentally boarded a flight to Marbella without them due to a shocking airport mix-up.
The parents, who were travelling from London Gatwick with their two children, had checked in for their easyJet flight to Spain when staff mistakenly allowed their youngest child to board alone.
The family only realised something was wrong when they received a boarding pass notification for their son – who was already on the plane without them.
Airport Chaos Unfolds
The distressed parents immediately alerted staff, but by then the flight had departed. The boy reportedly sat alone on the aircraft for the entire two-and-a-half-hour journey.
"We were in complete panic," the boy's father told reporters. "How could this happen? He's just a little boy."
Airline Responds
EasyJet has launched an investigation into the incident, calling it "extremely rare". A spokesperson said: "We are urgently reviewing how this occurred and have contacted the family to apologise."
The airline confirmed that cabin crew looked after the child during the flight and that he was safely reunited with his parents upon landing in Marbella.
Travel Safety Concerns
The incident has raised serious questions about airport security procedures, particularly regarding unaccompanied minors.
Aviation expert David Learmount commented: "This should never happen. There are strict protocols in place to prevent children travelling without authorised adults."
The Civil Aviation Authority has been notified and is monitoring the situation.
