Several employees of British discount airline Jet2.com have been suspended after an 11-year-old boy ran away from home, evaded multiple security checkpoints, latched onto another family, and managed to board a flight from Manchester to Rome on Tuesday.
Britain’s Transport minister, Justine Greening, called the ordeal “incredibly concerning,” as reported by local outlets.
The boy, named Liam, got past five control points at Manchester Airport after running away from his mother who was shopping near the airport. He was never asked for tickets or boarding passes and managed to board Flight LS791 is listed as a Boeing 737-800.
No one noticed the extra passenger, even after the crew conducted a headcount. Finally, some passengers became suspicious and alerted staff about the lonely boy who was talking up the passengers about his adventures in running away from home.
The boy landed in Rome and stayed onboard for the return flight to England.
Jet2.com and British authorities are investigating.