In 2019, one woman boarded a Saudi Airlines flight from Jeddah to Kuala Lumpur. She was looking forward to spending some time in the sun with her family.
It was only when the plane took off that she realized she had made a huge mistake.
She Forgot Something At The Airport
When she realized that her baby was missing, the plane had already been in the air for a few minutes.
Although aviation is the safest form of long-distance transport, turning back is much more difficult than with cars or busses. According to the passengers on the plane, the woman began crying and screaming when she realized what she had done.
Her Child Was Missing
As it turned out, she left her baby at the airport. She had a very long, stressful day and was rushing to get to Kuala Lumpur to reunite with her family.
As soon as she noticed that her son wasn't next to her, she began crying and begging the staff to turn back.
Everyone Was Shocked
The staff and other passengers were in complete shock.
They thought she must've been under the influence of alcohol or drugs. After all, how can you forget your own child at the airport?
She Requested That The Pilot Turn Back
The woman requested that the pilot turn back and return to the airport, but that was easier said than done.
Pilots can only turn the plane around during an emergency. But fortunately for her, the staff on the plane were friendly and willing to help her.
They Came Up With A Solution
They informed the air controllers of the issue, and together, they figured out how to turn the aircraft around without causing any disturbances.
In the meantime, the staff was sent to look for her child at the airport.
Praying For A Miracle
One of the pilots tried to calm the stressed mother down. He said: “May God help us. Can we turn around?”
The airport staff didn't believe the story at first, so the pilots had to repeat it several times. They explained that a woman had forgotten her child at the terminal and they needed to find him.
They Allowed The Pilots To Turn Back
Eventually, the air controllers decided to make an exception and allow the pilots to turn back to the airport.
According to them, this was the first time someone had forgotten their child at the airport. But was her son still at the terminal?
Reunited
Upon hearing the good news, the woman and the other passengers were relieved and eager to return to the airport.
Fortunately, the rest of the flight went smoothly, and the two were successfully reunited. There haven't been many reports about how long the child was held up or how long it took for the plane to return.
Not Everyone Was Happy
According to a report made by Gulf News, not everyone was happy with the staff's decision.
They believed that the pilots had disturbed other scheduled flights for that day by turning back.
They Were Disturbed By The Woman
Many passengers were disturbed by the fact that the woman left her son behind at the terminal and boarded the flight alone.
They couldn't understand how she didn't realize that her child was missing when she first entered the aircraft.
Some People Defended Her
Although there were many negative comments regarding the incident, some Twitter users defended the woman by explaining that it could happen to anyone.
One man suggested that it wasn't her fault and she shouldn't be judged for forgetting her kid at the airport.
Fahad's Opinion
Twitter user Fahad M. Albarrak suggested that it wasn't her fault. According to him, her son wasn't alone at the terminal. The staff was keeping an eye on him until the plane returned to the airport.
In 2018, a couple had also left their child at the airport. But their story is quite different.
Another Case
As they later explained, both parents thought that their child was with the other one as they parted ways after leaving the airport.
Fortunately for them, the police were able to locate their daughter fast and bring her home.
Be Careful
The airport staff warns people to be more careful when it comes to traveling with children.
Make sure your child is next to you at all times before and during the flight.