Airport security standards are under the spotlight at Beijing Capital International Airport after a family managed to ‘smuggle’ a child onto an aircraft without a ticket.
The child managed to get through all security and ticket checks and the lack of a ticket was only discovered onboard the plane moments before pulling away from the gate.
That prompted extra security procedures with all passengers forced to deplane and go through checks again.
It caused a five-hour delay to the Juneyao Airlines flight to Shanghai.
The age of the child has not been disclosed.
He was reportedly accompanied by three adults.
The Shanghai-based airline released a statement reminding passengers that all children over two years old are required to buy a ticket to fly.
Although there were obvious lapses in security, the parents of the child should take the lion’s share of responsibility, said Li Xiaojin, an airline expert with the Civil Aviation University of China.
