A couple allegedly abandoned their 10-year-old son at Barcelona’s El Prat International Airport after discovering his passport had expired, according to an airport worker.
The incident reportedly took place on Wednesday, when the parents left their child behind in order to board their flight on time.
The boy was later found alone at the terminal, waiting for a relative to collect him, prompting airport staff to notify police, said Lilian, an air traffic coordinator who shared details of the case.
Lilian posted a video about the incident on social media, which has since garnered over 300,000 views, criticising the parents for their actions.
The child had been denied boarding because his passport was expired and he did not hold a valid visa. According to reports, the parents arranged for a family member to pick him up before proceeding to their flight.
When airport staff discovered the child alone, authorities were called.
“He told police that his parents were already on the plane, heading to their home country for vacation,” Lilian said, adding that her claims have yet to be independently verified.
The aircraft, which was moments from take-off, was forced to return to the stand, where police boarded the plane. The pilot allegedly asked passengers if anyone had left a child behind in the terminal, but received no response.
The parents were eventually located and escorted to the airport police station, where their son was waiting. It remains unclear whether they were arrested.
“As an air traffic controller, I’ve seen many things,” Lilian said in her post. “But this was truly surreal. I can’t comprehend how parents could leave their 10-year-old child behind due to passport issues. They call a relative—who might take 30 minutes, an hour, or even three hours to arrive—and calmly board their flight.”
“As a mother, I’m shocked,” she added.
Metro has reached out to Barcelona El Prat Airport and local police for comment on the claims.
