Airline Leaves Child Alone in Bush Intercontinental Airport

HOUSTON, TX — A family in Des Moines, Iowa, is furious after their 12-year old daughter was misplaced by airline officials at George Bush Intercontinental Airport.

The child was supposed to be accompanied every step of her journey from Des Moines to Houston see her grandparents, but when the child arrived, the flight attendant who was supposed to stay with her until her grandmother arrived left her alone instead.

Dana and Adam Dunn had paid an extra $300 for United Airlines’ “unaccompanied minor program” for their daughter’s round-trip ticket to ensure she was with an adult.

"I sat on hold with them for 30 minutes and they said, ‘We're calling customer service to see if we can find her,’ and I said ‘I know where she is, but you guys don’t, and that’s a problem,’” Dana Dunn told KPRC.

The child was eventually found in the airport by the child’s grandmother after she’d been allowed through security.

United Airlines released a statement responding to the family's concern:

"We are committed to providing exceptional service to each of our customers. We are evaluating the circumstances surrounding this matter and will be following up with the customer."

Image: Bernal Saborio via Flickr