In July 2012, an 11-year-old boy named Liam Corcoran managed to travel from the United Kingdom to Italy without a passport, a boarding pass, or any money. His journey exposed massive security flaws at one of the busiest transport hubs in the country. The events of that day unfolded rapidly and resulted in significant changes to boarding procedures.
A Sudden Disappearance in Manchester
The incident began on a Tuesday afternoon when Liam was shopping with his mother at the Wythenshawe civic centre, a retail area located a short distance from Manchester Airport. The boy slipped away from his mother and left the shopping center on his own. He then made his way to the nearby airport terminals. He was completely alone and had no travel documents on his person.
Bypassing Airport Security
Upon arriving at Terminal 1, Liam seamlessly blended in with the large crowds of summer travelers. He walked into the security screening area and attached himself to a family that was passing through the checkpoints. He successfully walked through the metal detector. Airport staff completely failed to ask for his boarding pass or passport at this stage. He bypassed five separate security and document checks. The personnel on duty assumed he was part of the family he was walking near.
Boarding the Flight to Italy
After clearing security, Liam wandered to the departure gates. He proceeded to the gate for Jet2 flight LS791, which was scheduled to fly to Rome. At the boarding gate, staff once again failed to check his documents. He walked directly onto the aircraft and found an empty seat. The flight attendants doing the final headcounts did not notice the discrepancy between the passenger manifest and the number of people on board. The plane took off for the 1,044-mile (1,680-kilometer) journey to Italy.
Discovery and the Return Trip
The flight was mid-air when the situation finally came to light. Passengers sitting near Liam began talking to him and quickly realized the 11-year-old was traveling entirely alone. They immediately alerted the cabin crew. The flight attendants checked their records and confirmed that Liam was not supposed to be on the flight. The captain contacted air traffic control and Manchester Airport to inform them of the stowaway. Liam’s mother had already reported him missing to the local police.
When the aircraft landed at Rome Fiumicino Airport, Liam was instructed to remain on board the plane. He never formally entered Italian territory. After a quick turnaround, the aircraft departed Rome and flew the 1,044 miles (1,680 kilometers) back to Manchester. He arrived back in the United Kingdom late that same evening and was safely reunited with his mother. Following the incident, several airport and airline staff members were suspended pending a full investigation into the security breach.