Page 12 - IAV Digital Magazine #470

iAV - Antelope Valley Digital Magazine
Passenger Jet ‘Turns Around And Returns To Saudi Airport After Mother FORGETS Her Baby And Leaves It Behind'
A passenger plane reportedly had to turn around and go back to a Saudi airport after a mother left her baby at the termi- nal.
The Saudia flight from Jeddah was said to be on its
way to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia , when the woman realised she was missing her child and alerted cabin crew.
The pilot then had to request permission to return to Jeddah
from baffled air traffic controllers, Arab media reported.
The woman had left the child behind in the departure lounge at King Abdul Aziz International Airport, according to Gulf News.
A voice record- ing, which has been widely shared online in the Arab world, reveals how puz- zled aviation staff tried to deal with the crisis.
The pilot report- edly asked them:
'May God be with us. Can we come back or what?' One of the con- trollers can then be heard asking a colleague: 'This flight is request- ing to come back...a passen- ger forgot her baby in the wait- ing area, the poor thing.'
They then said: 'OK, head back to the gate. This is totally a new one for us!'
The bizarre delay reportedly took place over the weekend.
Flight-tracking data showed a Saudia flight from Jeddah to Kuala Lumpur departing almost an hour late on Saturday, but it was unclear if this was the
same one.
It was not clear whether the plane had already taken off or was taxiing towards the run- way when the woman realised her mistake.
Last year police in Germany said a couple had left their daughter at an airport in Stuttgart on their way back from a holiday.
Officers allegedly spotted the five- year-old wander- ing alone around the terminal last October.
Each parent had reportedly driven off separately and believed the child was in the other's car.
iAV - Antelope Valley Digital Magazine