10-year-old boy ditched at airport by parents who realized his passport was expired upon arrival at airport

In a scene one airport staffer described as "utterly surreal,” a couple allegedly abandoned their 10‑year‑old son at a Spanish airport after discovering his travel documents were invalid. With the boy’s Spanish passport expired and no visa in hand, the parents reportedly opted to board their flight anyway—arranging for a relative to meet and collect him at the terminal while they departed.

An airport staffer claims to have witnessed the incident

According to Lilian—a staff coordinator who shared the incident in a TikTok video now viewed by hundreds of thousands—the child told authorities his parents were already on board and en route to their home country for vacation. When airport and police personnel located the boy alone, they immediately informed the plane’s pilot, who then asked passengers if anyone had left a child behind. No one came forward.

Eventually, officers identified the parents, who were traveling with another younger child. They were taken to the airport’s police station—along with the boy—after authorities removed their six suitcases from the flight. Lilian questioned how someone could calmly board a plane and leave a 10‑year‑old unattended, even with assurances a relative would arrive within an hour or more.

The fate of the parents is still unknown

It’s not yet known whether the parents have been formally charged or faced any legal consequences. Their nationality hasn’t been disclosed, and the claims remain unverified beyond the coordinator’s TikTok account.

Eventually, officers identified the parents, who were traveling with another younger child.

Not the 1st case of children left behind or unattended at airports

Back in 2018, a couple in Germany forgot their five-year-old daughter at Berlin’s Stuttgart Airport, claiming they’d each thought the other parent had taken charge of her.

More recently, an unattended two-year-old was swept away on a luggage conveyor belt and dropped down a chute at New Jersey’s Newark Liberty International Airport in late May.

Yahoo CreatorTheankaraqueenHi there! I'm Brenda. A thirty something year old millennial who loves all things travel and fashion. Happy to share my tips and tricks when it comes to booking flights as well as dressing up.FollowFollow