Crafty Boy, 12, Sneaks onto Plane from Beirut to Turkey

Local Editor

A 12-year-old boy has caused a stir in Lebanon after slipping through multiple security checkpoints at Beirut's international airport and flying to Turkey in business class alone and undetected until just before landing.

Local daily As-Safir reported that Palestinian child Khaled Walid al-Shabti passed through each security checkpoint at the airport without being asked to present his passport.

He reportedly managed to walk through the first checkpoint at the airport by strolling into a crowded line and passed through after security agents failed to notice him.

He later walked behind a travelling family and passed unseen through the second security checkpoint, the report said.

It added that when asked about his passport by the air stewardess, the boy replied that his documents were with his mother who was following him.

The boy waited until the flight attendant had turned her back, then snuck onto the plane and took a seat in business class.

Shabti was only noticed when the cabin crew started counting the number of travelers aboard just prior to its landing. He was not allowed to leave the plane.

The captain then contacted Beirut and flew the boy back to Lebanon.

The report did not say when the incident took place, which airline was involved, or to what airport in Turkey the plane flew.

An airport source confirmed the incident to The Daily Star without providing details.

As-Safir said Lebanon's General Security began questioning Shabti as soon as the plane returned to Beirut.

He was later released and returned to his house in the Palestinian refugee camp of Burj al-Barajneh.
The head of the Beirut airport Mohammad Shehabeddine told As-Safir that anyone proven to have been involved in the airport's negligence will be held accountable.

Military Prosecutor Saqr Saqr has ordered an investigation into the incident, LBCI later reported.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team