[glagoliska]

Father of boy, 11, who flew to Rome alone says son doesn't own a passport and has never been abroad before

• Got through five security checks without showing passport or boarding pass
• Thought to have slipped through after 'tail-gating' a family through Terminal 1
• Father says his son, who walked three miles to the airport, has some 'learning problems'
  
• Allowed to board flight to Rome without being stopped
• Gaffe discovered after worried passengers alerted flight crew
  

By Sam Adams
PUBLISHED: 02:43 EST, 25 July 2012 | UPDATED: 10:16 EST, 25 July 2012



An 11-year-old boy was allowed to take a flight to Rome on his own without showing a passport or boarding pass, it has been revealed.
Liam Corcoran managed to board a plane at Manchester Airport after he left a swimming pool and then walked to Terminal 1.
The youngster is thought to have passed through security there after 'tail-gating' a family of holiday makers.
Staff at Manchester Airport have been suspended after the youngster was allowed to pass through five security checks before making his way on to the Jet2.com flight yesterday.

Liam Corcoran, 11, was allowed to board a Jet2 flight to Rome without being asked for his passport or boarding pass


Liam's father, Aaron Fort, 34, talked with his son Liam about his flight with Jet2.com when he thought the youngster was having a swimming lesson in Wythenshawe, when he had been out with his mother.
It is understood that he walked about three miles to the airport.

Mr Fort, a charity shop worker in Blackpool, Lancashire, said: 'He is still taking in what he has done.

'He seemed a bit petrified by the enormity of it all.

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'If he had got off the plane as easy as he got on Lord knows what would have happened to him wandering round Rome airport.'
Mr Fort said his son had some swimming difficulties and got out of the pool before he went on his trip.
He said: 'He wears armbands as he is not the best swimmer and I think he got into diffculties and the lifeguard had to throw him a rope to get him out.
'That sort of incident would have worried him-he is that sort of lad.He would have panicked.
'He must have got changed and given his mother the slip and then walked from the baths in Wythenshawe to the airport.

'It would have taken him about 30 minutes to walk it.
'Once there he seems to have mixed with some other children and followed them on the plane.
'I thought people should be counted on an off but that must not have been the case.'

An full investigation is underway at Manchester Airport after the security lapse

'He has never had a Passport, never been to Rome and never been abroad.
'When we all lived in Blackpool we would go down to the front and ride on a tram-that’s about it.
'As far I know he has no great love for planes. He would rather kick a ball about.'
The first thing Aaron knew that his son was missing was when he got phone call from the police.
'They rang me up three times and on the third call they said rest easy we know where Liam is. He is on a plane to Rome.'
'It scared the life out of me. I thought is was some kind of wind up and at first I did not believe them but my wife came one and told me it was true.'

'Liam and I will be meeting up this week and I will give him a big cuddle.'

Journey's end: Liam managed to get to Fiumicino airport in Rome

'You hear of kids going missing and are never seen again.


'My feelings are one of relief now that we have spoken.
'He has some learning problems and copes differently from other children when it comes to coping with problems

'I don't think my wife has done anything wrong. He just slipped away .The nearest he is going to get to planes in future will be an Airfix kit.'
A spokesman for the airport described the security lapse as an 'extremely serious matter' and said it was being urgently investigated by officials from the airport and airline.
'This is an unusual and serious breach'

Transport Secretary Justine Greening


'It is clear that documentation has not been checked correctly at security and the boarding gate,' he said.

'The boy went through full security screening so the safety of passengers and the aircraft was never compromised.
'We are now making preparations to ensure that his return to the UK is handled sensitively to avoid any distress.'
Security staff there scanned him but did not establish that he was unaccompanied and had no boarding card.
The schoolboy was then allowed to board Jet2.com flight LS791 to Rome without being asked to show either a passport or a boarding card.

Liam was then missed by flight crew on board who failed to carry out an accurate passenger headcount.

The gaffe was only revealed after concerned passengers alerted cabin crew members, and the captain radioed back to Manchester.
The crew alerted the captain who radioed back to Manchester.
Police at Manchester Airport then called Liam’s anxious mother to tell her that her son was safe and well – but on a plane on the way to Italy.
LIAM'S 3,000 MILE JOURNEY

• Slipped away from his mother at Wythenshaw Shopping Centre in Manchester yesterday morning
• Made his way to Manchester Airport, three miles away
• Went through security without passport or boarding pass
• Made it onto Jet2.com flight to Rome without being stopped
• Flown home on same plane from Rome after concerned passengers alert flight crew

The aircraft landed as normal at Fiumicino Airport in Rome but Liam stayed on board for the return flight to Manchester Airport where he was met by his relieved mother at 9pm last night.
The flight home was delayed as flight crew were spoken to by the Italian authorities.

A number of staff from Manchester Airport and Jet2.com have been suspended while the investigation takes place.
Speaking on BBC News 24 today, Transport Secretary Justine Greening said: 'This is an unusual and serious breach and we are keen to find out what has gone on.'
The security lapse comes as immigration staff at Manchester Airport prepare to strike.
Terminal Three will close to international arrivals from tomorrow as Border Force staff stage a 24-hour walk-out over planned staff cuts.
Members of the Public and Commercial Services union will stage a walkout and other forms of industrial action tomorrow and take other forms of industrial action until August 20.
A spokesman for the airport said passengers can expect delays during the strike but that disruption will not be significant.
The airport is understood to be drafting in back-office staff to help manage the queues and provide information to passengers, according to the Manchester Evening News.

Specially trained volunteers are expected to be called in by the Border Force to help carry out security checks during the strike.