QANTAS has fessed up to losing track of an unaccompanied 11-year-old boy and even misplacing the paperwork involving his flight to Hobart.
When the boy arrived at Hobart Airport on his own late at night on September 28 he was forced to wander around on his own looking for his mother, The Age reports.
Qantas says the incident happened during a particularly busy night when the arrivals hall of Hobart Airport was in turmoil because storms in Melbourne had caused flight delays, passenger disruption and lost baggage.
The boy, who had been dropped off at Melbourne Airport by his uncle and passed into the care of Qantas cabin crew, told his mother, Leanne Decleva, that he didn't know why he was on his own after landing in Hobart.
"Anyone could have come along and just creamed him up in a couple of seconds," said Ms Decleva, a child protection worker.
She marched him back to the Qantas counter to find out what had happened and was told they had no paperwork to sign for his collection and did not know who was authorised to pick him up.
"I've shown my licence as ID and they just (said) take him," Ms Decleva said.
"But there could have been a custody battle in train and I may have been prevented from having any contact with him.
"Working in child protection, I know all this stuff, because it happens all the time."
She has declined the airline's offer of a $1000 travel voucher and is considering her legal options.
It comes as Qantas continues negotiations with a union over a pay dispute which has affected up to 60,000 passengers so far - with more disruptions to come.
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Qantas loses boy. Sorry, here's a travel voucher | News.com.au