An Unaccompanied Child Was Mistakenly Put on The Wrong Spirit Airlines Flight
As airlines were gearing up for record-breaking holiday traffic, an unaccompanied child was mistakenly put on the wrong Spirit Airlines flight this week. The child, who was traveling from Philadelphia to Fort Myers, was “incorrectly boarded” on a flight to Orlando, a city more than 100 miles away, the airline confirmed in a statement.
Spirit Airlines spokesperson Thomas Fletcher stated in an email that the child was always under the supervision of an airline employee, and as soon as the airline discovered the error, it “took immediate steps” to reconnect the family. Fletcher added, “We take the safety and responsibility of transporting all of our Guests seriously and are conducting an internal investigation. We apologize to the family for this experience.”
A local TV station in Fort Myers, WINK News, reported that the child was a 6-year-old traveling to visit his grandmother, Maria Ramos. She described it as one of the scariest ordeals she’s ever gone through.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg warned travelers last month of a potentially record-breaking holiday travel season. Inclement weather is threatening the plans for millions of Americans this week as snow and rain descend upon the middle of the country.
This incident underscores the importance of ensuring correct boarding procedures and close monitoring of unaccompanied minors, especially during high-traffic periods such as the holiday season.
Zachary Schermele is a breaking news and education reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach him by email at [email protected]. Follow him on X at @ZachSchermele.