Spirit Airlines Apologizes for “Home Alone” Scenario Involving 6-Year-Old Boy

In a situation reminiscent of a real-life "Home Alone" scenario, Spirit Airlines faced a public relations crisis after a 6-year-old boy was mistakenly placed on the wrong flight, sparking panic and fear for his family. The airline has issued an apology, but key questions about the error remain unanswered.

Last Thursday, the young boy, flying for the first time, boarded a Spirit Airlines flight in Philadelphia, destined for Fort Myers, Florida. However, he ended up over 160 miles away in Orlando, leaving his grandmother, Maria Ramos, in a state of distress at Fort Myers airport.

Ramos, who was supposed to pick up her grandson, recounted the tense moments to WINK News, expressing her panic when she discovered that her grandson's bags had arrived, but he had not. The situation escalated when she received a call from her grandson, who was alone in Orlando. In response, Ramos embarked on a frantic journey to reunite with her grandson.

Spirit Airlines, in a statement, emphasized that the child was under the supervision of a team member at all times and that steps were taken immediately to inform the family and rectify the situation. The airline also confirmed that an internal investigation is underway to prevent such incidents in the future.

This mishap raises critical concerns about airline protocols, particularly regarding unaccompanied minors. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) clarified that their role is limited to verifying boarding passes at security checkpoints, indicating that this error lies with the airline.

Such incidents, while rare, are not unprecedented. The Washington Post recalls similar occurrences, including a 2016 lawsuit against JetBlue Airways for a mix-up involving a 5-year-old's flight details and a 2017 incident where a passenger boarded the wrong international flight.

See the full story here via the Washington Post.