Parents abandon 10-year-old son at airport after learning his passport was expired

The story has gone viral on TikTok. 

In a viral video — viewed more than 300,000 times — an air traffic controller at Barcelona’s El Prat international airport has claimed the parents ditched their son at the airport before going on to board their flight as scheduled. 

They had apparently organised for a relative to come and pick him up. 

It is said that the 10-year-old was soon discovered by concerned staff who then alerted police.

The parents’ alleged selfish decision reportedly led to chaos at the airport. 

According to the video, police were informed, who then instructed that the flight, which had begun takeoff procedures, be delayed until the family could be reunited. 

The pilot is then said to have put a call out amongst passengers on the plane, asking if anyone “had left a child in the terminal,” and apparently: “No one answered.”

It is reported that when they were eventually identified, the parents were taken off the plane and brought to the local police station, where they were met with their son. 

Air traffic controller and TikToker Lilian said: “As a controller, I’ve seen a lot of things, but this has been completely surreal.

“He [the child] told them that his parents were on the plane on their way to their home country, going on vacation.

“I’m amazed to think how parents could possibly leave their ten-year-old son at the terminal because he can’t travel due to documentation issues.

“They call a relative, who might take half an hour, an hour, or three hours, and they calmly board the flight and leave the child behind.

“As a mother, I’m amazed.’