An 11-year-old boy took a flight to Rome on his own from Manchester Airport without a passport or boarding pass, it was revealed today.
Liam Corcoran passed through security without being checked before making his way on to the Jet2.comflight yesterday.
A Manchester Airport spokesman said: “This extremely serious matter is now being urgently investigated by officials from the airport and airline.”
A report in the Manchester Evening News said the boy had run away from his mother during a shopping trip and made his own way to the airport. The newspaper said he followed a family at Terminal 1 and was scanned by security staff, but his lack of documents was not noticed.
He passed through a gate where he was not required to show a passport or boarding pass, and got on Jet2.comflight LS791 to the Italian capital without being asked for a boarding pass stub. He flew to Rome Fiumicino and returned on the same aircraft, where he was met by his mother.
A number of staff from the airport and Jet2.comhave been suspended while the investigation takes place.