On Monday, 4 August 2025, a 15-year-old British teenager accidentally boarded the wrong flight at Menorca’s Mahon Airport in Spain, leading to an unexpected journey and a swift response from authorities and airline staff. The teenager was scheduled to return to London Stansted with his family on TUI Airways flight BY5107. Instead, he mistakenly boarded an easyJet flight U2-3762 bound for Milan Malpensa, Italy.
The boy’s parents alerted the airport authorities when they realised their son was missing. Spanish police reviewed CCTV footage from the departures area, which revealed that the teenager had boarded the Milan-bound easyJet flight. Mahon Airport activated its missing child alert system to address the situation, a protocol designed to locate and protect unaccompanied minors.
“Officers checked cameras in the departures area and saw the teenager had managed to get on to a flight to Milan. The airport had already activated its missing child alert system, but it was deactivated after it was confirmed the lad was on his way to Italy,” said a national police spokesperson in Milan.
According to reports, during the flight to Milan, easyJet cabin crew realised a passenger was on the flight without a ticket. The airline’s staff acted efficiently, maintaining communication with ground teams to ensure the boy’s well-being upon landing. EasyJet stated that its staff helped arrange for a family member to meet the lost teenager in Italy.
When the teenager landed in Milan, he was met by local authorities and easyJet staff. They also arranged for his mother to fly over the same day. The reunited family then returned to the UK together.
“We are investigating with the airport and our ground handling provider at Mahon how a young passenger was able to travel unaccompanied on the wrong flight to Milan this morning,” said an easyJet spokesperson. The airline is reviewing boarding procedures and passenger verification processes to prevent similar incidents.
A source informed The Sun that gate staff responsible for verifying passports and tickets might have left their positions after assuming all passengers had boarded, creating an opportunity for the teenager to board the wrong flight.
The teenager’s identity and that of his family have not been disclosed, respecting their privacy during this unsettling experience. The incident highlights the complexities of air travel and the importance of safety and verification measures at airports.
“easyJet works closely with all of our airports to ensure the safety and security of all passengers,” concluded easyJet’s spokesperson.
