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Source: Independent | Image created by MidJourney prompt by Andrés Escoto
Last weekend, a 13-year-old boy managed to board a British Airways plane without a ticket, prompting an investigation by the police.
The unaccompanied minor was discovered on board a British Airways flight to Los Angeles on July 14th when the cabin crew asked to see his boarding pass. After it became clear that he did not have the correct travel documentation, the entire flight was deplaned and passengers had to go through security again.
It is still unclear how the boy managed to get so far undetected. The Metropolitan Police confirmed that the child was identified by the cabin crew during the pre-flight check and that he did not have a ticket or any travel documents.
"The boy was an unaccompanied minor and is not a UK national," said a spokesperson. Police believe the boy arrived at Heathrow as a transit passenger. "As a security precaution, passengers were deplaned following a discussion between police and the captain," the spokesperson added. "He remains in the care of the police, and liaison continues with the immigration services."
Rachel Richardson, a passenger affected by this, tweeted briefly about how everything happened.
So I survived my six-hour wait at Heathrow but am now delayed on the tarmac because a young boy made his way onto our plane - BA269 - without a ticket. Big security breach. So much fun for everyone on board 🤪 We were meant to take off at 4:15 pm. It’s nearly 6 pm 😬— Rachel Richardson (@RachelARich) 14 de julio de 2019
The head of the editorial for Snapchat recently tweeted about a chaotic situation on a British Airways flight:
“Hey @British_Airways thank you for putting our safety first but it’s totally chaotic here as an entire plane goes back through security. Very little information from staff. Be thankful that the #DjokovicFederer nailbiter is keeping some of us amused.”
In response, a British Airways spokesperson issued an apology to customers for the delay caused by an issue during boarding. The spokesperson emphasized that the safety and security of customers and crew is always their top priority and that all passengers had undergone security checks prior to boarding.
As soon as the issue was identified, additional precautionary screening was conducted, and the airline is cooperating with police inquiries.
A spokesperson for Heathrow airport confirmed that they are also working with the police and the airline to understand how an unauthorized passenger was able to board the wrong aircraft. They assured the public that the individual did not represent a security risk and that the aircraft was re-screened as a precautionary measure before departing. The spokesperson apologized for any disruption caused and reiterated their commitment to working closely with authorities and airline partners to keep the airport safe.
1 comments
Nowaday taking care of a child is a challenge more if you have more than one.
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