Spirit Airlines put a 6-year-old boy travelling alone to visit his grandmother on a wrong flight and apologized to the family through an email to CNN.
A 6-year-old boy, who flew alone for the first time to visit his grandmother in Florida, faced a distressing situation. According to a report from the New York Post, he was mistakenly placed on the wrong Spirit Airlines flight. His intended journey from Philadelphia International Airport to Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers took an unexpected turn when he found himself on a flight bound for Orlando, a location four hours away from his intended destination.
Spirit Airlines apologized to the family through an email statement to CNN. They clarified that the child was always under the care and supervision of a Spirit Team Member. Upon discovering the error, immediate steps were taken to communicate with the family and ensure their reunion. The statement didn’t provide details on how the mistake occurred, but a spokesperson mentioned that an internal investigation was underway.
The boy’s grandmother, Maria Ramos, shared her distressing experience with Wink News. Panic set in when her grandson didn’t disembark in Fort Myers as expected. Mrs. Ramos recounted her interaction with airline staff, stating, “They told me, ‘No, he’s not on this flight. He missed his flight.’ I said, ‘No, he could not miss his flight because I have the check-in tag.” She approached a flight attendant who denied having any children with her.
Later, the boy contacted Mrs. Ramos, assuring her that he had landed safely. Despite the hiccup, his baggage arrived in Fort Myers as planned. Mrs. Ramos embarked on a four-hour drive to pick up her grandson, describing the incident as one of the most terrifying experiences of her life. While Spirit Airlines offered reimbursement for the drive, Mrs. Ramos seeks an explanation for the lapse. She emphasized, “I want them to call me. Let me know how my grandson ended up in Orlando. How did that happen?”
The airline reiterated that the child had been under continuous supervision. “The child was always under the care and supervision of a Spirit Team Member, and as soon as we discovered the error, we took immediate steps to communicate with the family and reconnect them,” Spirit stated. They expressed regret for the experience and assured the family that a thorough investigation was being conducted.
