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Girl accidentally left at airport
Categories: Preschoolers, In The News, Weird But True
Luggage? Check! - Boarding pass? Check!
- Liquids and lotions properly distilled or stowed? Check!
- Passports and proper identification at the ready? Check and check!
- Duty-free shopping present and accounted for? Check!
- All your children boarded and buckled on the plane? Uh-oh.
In frightening repeat of the toddler who was accidentally left behind in a Canadian airport when traveling with his parents and grandparents, a four-year-old was found wandering around a Tel Aviv airport when her family accidentally took off on a Parisian vacation without her. The parents of the girl were apparently overwhelmed because in addition to traveling with five children, they were reportedly wrangling a staggering EIGHTEEN suitcases. Until the pilot informed the family (over the loudspeaker for maximum embarrassment, ouch!) that their child had been left at the airport, they hadn't even noted she was missing.
As the mom of a large-ish family (I have four kids), I can't fathom this happening. Whenever we travel as a group, I'm mentally doing headcounts and miss out on all the people watching as I'm keeping everyone in my clan within eyesight at all times. No one can wander away from the group (including my husband and I!) without letting an adult know. So far the system has worked and we have never left a man (or child!) behind.
The little forgotten girl was escorted by a flight attendant on the next flight to Paris where she was reunited with her family with the biggest trump card to pull out of her back pocket ..... for the rest of her life. "Remember that time you left me at the airport and I was so scared?"
Police say her parents will be questioned upon their return and may be charged with negligence.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 11)
Heather 8-04-2008 @ 4:32PM
It's nice the author of this article has never made this mistake, but as someone who misplaced their child at Disney World. I can assure you it happens in a split second and in the moments longer it might take you to recognize the child is missing, you could be so well separated that you need staff help to locate the child. We don't know all the particulars about the incident, were thay all seated together, etc. so I think we should be happy for them that they got their child back unharmed and leave it at that.
Reply
Shelley 8-04-2008 @ 5:36PM
Ok, we are not all perfect parents, kids wander off, stuff happens. Your child wandered off at disney, but you didnt leave the park and start driving home and realize 30mi down the road that they werent in the car!!! When travelin with that many people, there shoulda been a buddy system, the baby was only 4yrs old, for goodnesssake! Thank God the child made it safely back to their family.
Carolyn 8-04-2008 @ 8:22PM
As one who grew up in a very large family (I have 6 siblings), I can honestly state that my parents NEVER left any of us behind. Roll call and head counts (just in case someone was speaking for someone else) was done at the beginning, during and end of each and every outing. I, myself, have only one child and it's a heck of a lot easier doing a head count.
wisewriter 8-04-2008 @ 8:56PM
I agree with Heather, it can happen in a split second......in a true SPLIT SECOND.....you have a million things going on in your mind included their safety, diet, dressing them appropriaty on and on....although in a group its a great idea to deligate responsabilities ...just watch it next time they may not be so lucky...Lucifer is all around us...I thank the LORD for her safe return to her family...
Bob 8-04-2008 @ 9:03PM
You are an idiot! It must be nice that you are PERFECT. And I would like to pat the airline pilot on the back for making a PUBLIC announcement of the parents stupidity! I raised five myself--my brothers--and it was a hassle, but leaving one behind, spare me the B.S.
Barbara Kane 8-04-2008 @ 9:09PM
Heather, You dont get it. When you lost your child in Disney, did you leave the park and only realize it when you got to the hotel? I dont think so.Of course a child can wander off at the drop of a hat but that is NOT the same as what happened here. I think you watched Home Alone" one too many times dear.
Margo 8-04-2008 @ 9:23PM
I don't get it--once the 18 bags were checked what else were they worried about- 4 bottles of duty free - Who had her ticket and didn't they realize when they pulled theirs out that she wasn't with them. A airport is a very crowded place how could you let a toddler walk along without someone holding her hand. No excuse
patty 8-04-2008 @ 9:41PM
But you knew your child was missing a split second later, not after the plane took off - who was supposed to sit next to the little girl, surely not a stranger on both sides? They didn't notice the seat was empty?
jn 8-04-2008 @ 10:25PM
Maybe it's about TEACHING your children not to wander off, Heather? Hm? I bet your kids run wild in the stores, too. Doesn't anyone have ANY accountability anymore? And maybe if you can't handle 5 kids, you shouldn't have them.
stephanie 8-04-2008 @ 10:28PM
There is a big difference between a child wandering off at an amusement park and boarding an airplane-and actually taking off-while your child is forgotten about at that airport.
Drace 8-04-2008 @ 10:47PM
My god Heather you are a first class MORON! Earth is calling, come in please. My mom only had me to worry about but I was taught to always stay near. Your kids are the ones who run wild all over the store and knock over displays arn't they? This is NOT Home Alone you idiot. Welcome to reality, I just hope you wake up before your kids are out of college.
JDW 8-04-2008 @ 10:55PM
I have three kids. I know things happen. Once, in about a split second, I lost my son who was about three at the time, in a crowd of people at the movies. When traveling with them, even now that they are older, I have my eyes on them AT ALL TIMES! I understand that we don't know the circumstances to this situation, but I honestly don't know how parents could have boarded a plane and took off without realizing that they were short a child!
Anne 8-05-2008 @ 12:03AM
I left my 7-year-old at the church following her father's memorial service. Back home, with a houseful of family and guests, I did not miss her until a friend still at church called to ask if I was missing anything. "Nothing except my late husband," I replied. Things like this just happen; it means the parents were preoccupied. Thankfully all turned out well.
Deidre 8-04-2008 @ 11:44PM
You might have misplaced your child at Disneyland..but you didnt leave the park go to your hotel room/house and say...OH my God we left little billy at the park. One thing that is inbred in PARENTS is they know how many children they have...how can you even fathom the fact that all your kids are with you when at some point they had to get in line to get on the plane...Oh they didnt forget their 18 bags of luggage..And I bet if one piece was missing the woman would have pitched a fit about it for days....
djcraw17 8-05-2008 @ 12:15AM
Ummm.....my nephew wandered off in a shopping mall and we finally found him hiding inside a rack of clothing a few feet away. This incident as well as misplacing a child at Disney World is NOTHING like leaving your child behind at an airport. IF a plane were to lift off immediately after placing your butt in the seat I could fathom leaving a child behind! In this case, NOT!! This is child neglect or maybe even trying to get rid of one of your kids!
robinsonkyla1 8-05-2008 @ 12:28AM
you were responsible and counting and watching kids at a place where they should be doing things and playing...at an airport it's different. plus what if the pilot or airline didn't announce it to them? hmmm. i bet they would have landed and not realized it. when i fly or travel i don't even let my 7 yr old let go of my arm and my 12 yr old holds hands w/ the 16 yr old while i carry the 2 yr old or have her in the stroller.
i bet if it was a bag w/ one million dollars cash they would not have forgotten it somewhere.
i know it's harsh to judge but in this day and age w/ all the creeps and what not out there you can't be too safe.
MissyMc100 8-05-2008 @ 2:01AM
This is not the case of a child going missing, or running off at Disney World, or turning around and they run off. YOU know they are gone and your looking for your child. These people did not even know she was missing and give me a break 18 suit cases I bet they all made it.
tina 8-05-2008 @ 2:16AM
i woulld be crying if i left my kids at the airport i got 2 gilrs and i t would be hard to fly with them and i would got a bletlease and keep them close to me i love my girls and i would do anything for them
pro 8-05-2008 @ 10:53AM
I agree with you. All of those who got hot under t he collar didn't have children and don't understand the problems of traveling with a big family. My Uncle, years ago, left a kid in a gas station. He only had 7 other kids to keep track of. Gave my cousin great story lines forever after. Think you have had to be there.
Pepsimania 8-05-2008 @ 4:38AM
I agree that they were lucky to have the child back, and sorry you lost your own in the crowds at Disney. BUT it is a lot different to have your child step outta sight a second and get confusedly lost in the crowd then it is to have to be told by others at a later time that they have even misplaced a child to begin with.