Spirit Airlines Apologizes After Mistakenly Putting Unaccompanied Child on Wrong Flight During Holiday Rush

Spirit Airlines has apologized after mistakenly putting an unaccompanied child on the wrong flight during the holiday season travel rush. The 6-year-old boy, identified by CBS affiliate WINK-TV as visiting his grandmother, Maria Ramos, was supposed to be traveling from Philadelphia to Fort Myers, but was instead boarded on a flight to Orlando.

In a statement Saturday, Spirit Airlines said the child was always under the care and supervision of a Spirit Team Member, and that as soon as the mistake was discovered, they took immediate steps to communicate with the family and reconnect them.

The airline spokesperson said an internal investigation was underway to determine how the mistake was made. “We take the safety and responsibility of transporting all of our Guests seriously and are conducting an internal investigation,” the airline added.

The family of the child was reunited with him on Friday night in Orlando, according to WINK-TV. The station reported that Ramos was relieved to be reunited with her grandson, but was still concerned about how the incident was handled.

Spirit Airlines has yet to provide additional details about the incident or the child, but the airline has apologized for the mistake and is conducting an internal investigation. The family of the child has been reunited and is thankful for the safe return of their loved one.