NEWS: Airline Agent Fired After 6-Year-Old Placed on Wrong Flight

We recently informed you of a major communication mix-up at a Florida airport.

A 6-year-old boy was taken to the wrong gate at the Philadelphia airport and ended up over 100 miles from his destination and his grandmother. We now have an update on the situation.

According to FOX 35, A Spirit Airline employee has been fired due to the incident that occurred on December 26th. The Spirit Airlines agent was supposed to take Casper, who is 6 years old, to his gate at the Philadelphia Airport to catch a flight to Fort Myers, Florida where his grandmother was waiting. However, that is not what happened.

The agent mistakenly took the boy to a gate that departed to Orlando, Florida, about 4 hours away from his grandmother. When the flight he was supposed to be on landed in Fort Myers, his grandmother looked for him and asked the flight attendant where he was. The attendant stated she did not have any kids with her on her flight and insisted he had missed his flight.

Casper was flying as an unaccompanied minor which cost his grandmother an additional $150. Maria Ramos, Casper’s grandma, shared her experience with FOX 35.  “I go to RSW to pick him up – as I should. I go there with my ID and everything,” Ramos said. “The lady that took care of me said, ‘No, he missed his flight.’ I said, ‘What do you mean he missed his flight? He checked in. This is his ticket. He was checked in by his mom.’ She goes, ‘No, he missed his flight. He’s not on this flight. I said, ‘No, no, no you’ve got it wrong, you have to find my grandson.'”

His luggage ended up in Fort Myers while Casper, himself, landed in Orlando. Luckily, Casper FaceTimed his grandmother who directed him to find an airport employee (no adult was with him after he got off the plane). After the incident, Spirit reimbursed Ramos for the drive to Orlando to retrieve her grandson. They then initiated an investigation, which resulted in the firing of the agent who escorted Casper to the incorrect gate.

Spirit released a statement saying, “This agent is no longer working with Spirit, and any individual whose actions resulted in the incorrect boarding will be held accountable for failing to follow our procedures,” Spirit said. “We are also reiterating our procedures to the team, and we are in communication with the child’s family about this matter.”

Spirit also stated, at the time, “On Dec. 21, an unaccompanied child traveling from Philadelphia (PHL) to Fort Myers (RSW) was incorrectly boarded on a flight to Orlando (MCO). 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. We take the safety and responsibility of transporting all of our guests seriously and are conducting an internal investigation. We apologize to the family for this experience.”

Ramos responded asking, “Why are you lying? For me to find out where was my son – my grandson was, he had to call me!” She has expressed that she is not concerned about the money but instead wants to see the airline take accountability.

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