A half-term getaway turned into a parental nightmare for one UK family after they made a horrifying discovery mid-air: they had boarded their flight to Tenerife without their nine-year-old son.
The bewildered boy was left stranded at Manchester Airport's departure gate as his parents and younger sibling jetting off to the Canary Islands. The shocking realisation only dawned on the parents after their plane had taken off, triggering a frantic emergency response.
A Frantic Mid-Air Realisation
According to reports, the family was proceeding through the airport normally. The parents, who have not been named, successfully passed through security with their two children. The catastrophic oversight occurred in the departure lounge, where the nine-year-old was somehow left behind as the family boarded the easyJet flight.
It wasn't until the aircraft was in the air and the seatbelt signs were switched off that the mother and father made the gut-wrenching discovery that their eldest child was not with them.
The Emergency U-Turn
Upon realisation, the parents immediately alerted the cabin crew. The pilot was informed of the situation and made the decision to initiate a U-turn over the Bay of Biscay, off the coast of France.
The plane, which had been bound for sunny Tenerife, was forced to return to Manchester Airport. The dramatic turnback left fellow passengers shocked, adding hours to their journey but united in concern for the stranded child.
A spokesperson for Manchester Airport confirmed: "We look after all children travelling through the airport who get separated from their parents and our staff are trained to provide extra support in these instances until they are safely reunited with their family."
A Happy Reunion
Thankfully, airport staff had located the frightened boy and were caring for him in the terminal. Upon landing back in Manchester, the family was swiftly and safely reunited on the ground.
An easyJet spokesperson stated: "We can confirm that flight EJU3254 from Manchester to Tenerife returned to Manchester due to a customer incident onboard. The aircraft landed safely and was met by police upon arrival."
The family later departed on a new flight, this time all together, hoping to put the stressful start to their holiday behind them.
