Parents abandon 10-year-old son at airport, fly without him

A couple reportedly left their 10-year-old son at a Barcelona airport after his passport had expired so they wouldn't miss their flight to their home country, 24NewsHD TV reported on Wednesday. 

A woman working at Barcelona’s El Prat International Airport posted a TikTok expressing amazement at a couple who allegedly abandoned their 10-year-old at the airport because the child didn’t have the right documentation to board the flight. 

According to the woman, the young boy did not have the proper visa, and his passport had expired, so he was not allowed to board the flight.

The parents, upon learning this, called a relative to pick him up and left the child alone at the terminal to wait while they boarded their flight to go on vacation to their home country.

Their plans didn’t materialize because airport staff found the boy, who told them his parents were on the plane, and they were escorted to the police station.

The claims of the woman who reported this via TikTok have not been verified, but the video has garnered more than 330,000 views.

 According to airport officials, the young boy was discovered wandering alone in the departure area after his parents had already boarded their flight.

Staff members noticed the distressed child and immediately alerted security.

“The boy was confused and frightened. He kept asking where his parents were,” said an airport employee. “We checked the flight records and realized his parents had already taken off.” 

"His passport in the country was expired, so the child was traveling with a Spanish passport but the Spanish passport needed a visa. As they did not have a visa, they left the child at the terminal and called a relative to come and pick him up," said the airport official. 

Airport security and child welfare officials took custody of the child and contacted his parents.

“This is an extremely serious matter,” a child protection officer stated.

“Leaving a minor unattended in a public place, especially an airport, is unacceptable and could have ended in tragedy.”

Contact was made with the plane's pilot, who reportedly confirmed that the police told him there was a minor in the car park.

 The parents were located, who were accompanied by another younger child.  

It was not clear if the parents were charged with any crime or their nationality.