Eleven-Year-Old Makes It Past ATL Security Without a Boarding Pass or ID

An unaccompanied eleven-year-old boy was found trying to board a flight at Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson Airport (ATL) on Friday without a boarding pass — and he made it pretty far.

Although there isn't much information on the boy's intentions, sources say that he made it to ATL by taking a bus from his home in Clayton, GA, to the airport. When he arrived, he was cleared by security despite not having a plane ticket or identification.

According to TSA, the incident was not considered a security breach since the boy was screened. TSA also explained that the boy was not required to provide identification since he was under 18. TSA's website reads, "TSA does not require children under 18 to provide identification when traveling with a companion within the United States."

It was only after the boy had been screened that the airport began to question the presence of the unaccompanied, ticketless traveler. He made it beyond the security checkpoint before responding to questions about the whereabouts of his parents, which is when TSA alerted the ATL Department of Aviation in hopes of locating the boy. The Atlanta police were notified and intervened after the boy was found trying to board a Delta flight.

When questioned by WSB-TV, the boy's mom was mostly concerned with the lack of attentiveness of the airport, telling reporters, "You should be at the airport asking them how [he got that far]."

While this particular incident ended up being essentially harmless, it can be very unsettling to see loose security measures at the airport, especially during such a busy travel season. Many frequent flyers would agree that in order to put travelers at ease, airport staff should be asking and answering critical questions before it's too late.

H/T: USA Today