A couple allegedly abandoned their 10-year-old son at Barcelona’s El Prat Airport after realizing his passport had expired, forcing authorities to halt their flight just before takeoff, an airport worker has revealed.
The incident occurred on Wednesday, July 30, when the boy was barred from boarding due to his expired passport and lack of a visa.
According to Lilian, an air traffic coordinator who shared the story on TikTok, the parents arranged for a relative to pick him up—then proceeded to board their flight without him.
Airport staff discovered the child alone and alerted police. Authorities then ordered the plane which was moments from departure to return to the gate.
The pilot reportedly asked passengers if anyone had left a child behind, but no one responded initially.
Police later located the parents and escorted them off the aircraft to reunite with their son at the airport’s police station. It remains unclear whether they faced arrest.
“I’ve seen a lot as an air traffic controller, but this was surreal,” Lilian said in her viral video, which has amassed over 300,000 views. “As a mother, I’m stunned that parents could leave their child behind just to catch a flight.”
The case has sparked outrage online, with critics condemning the couple’s decision to prioritize travel over their child’s safety.
Airport officials have not released further details, citing privacy concerns.
