Unaccompanied minor was safely on plane until mechanical issues forced evacuation. Now he's missing

[Liberal_in_LA]

Missing Boy Wanders Out of Burbank Airport

picture of boy wandering off at link. I hope he's found soon and safely

Authorities are searching for a 14-year-old autistic boy who wandered out of Bob Hope Airport after his flight was delayed.

Cameron James Smith's parents took him to the airport and made sure the teen boarded his Delta Airlines flight, scheduled to take off at 10:30 a.m.

However, mechanical issues forced a delay. The plane returned to the gate and passengers deplaned, said airport spokesman Victor Gill.

The unaccompanied minor wandered out of the airport and boarded a parking lot shuttle, said Gill. Smith was last seen exiting the shuttle alone near the intersection of Hollywood Way and Thornton Avenue.

http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Burbank-Airport-Missing-Kid-132195273.html

[JI7]

1. any picture of the boy ?

[Liberal_in_LA]

2. at link

[Brickbat]

4. Here.

http://media.nbclosangeles.com/images/Cameron+James+Smith+Bob+Hope+Airport+Burbank+101911.jpg
http://media.nbclosangeles.com/images/Cameron+James+Smith+family+photo+101911.jpg

[Liberal_in_LA]

6. Thanks.

[Brickbat]

3. For $100 EACH WAY for a UM charge, you'd think Delta maybe could have come up with a way to make

sure something like this doesn't happen. $100. EACH. WAY.

[Liberal_in_LA]

5. I had no idea there was a charge for this service. Maybe also, the parents should wait for the

plane to takeoff.

[Brickbat]

9. When you put a kid on the plane they do encourage you to wait until it takes off, but it's not a

requirement. I sometimes do, sometimes I don't, depending on what else I've got going on. The way I see it, I've bought him a ticket AND forked over an extra $100; they can do their damn jobs and accompany him like I've paid them to if the plane has to come back for work.

Or, you know, actually put the planes on reasonable maintenance schedules so they're not trying to tinker with shit between flights.

[MedicalAdmin]

7. Someone screwed up.

That charge is to make sure that someone assumes responsibility for the child and doesn't relinquish it until it is handed off to the pre-arranged pick up on the other end.

Someone screwed up.

I hope they find the bloke.

[Liberal_in_LA]

8. I know the area. Very busy busy urban area. Someone should see him.

[Brickbat]

10. Exactly. God, I hate Delta. I hope this kid makes it back safely.

[tammywammy]

20. According to this article, they didn't pay the fee

However, an aviation source told ABC News, Cameron’s parents did not pay a $100 unaccompanied minor fee, according to airline records. In addition, the source said, the airline was initially told Cameron was older than 14, which would have allowed him to travel alone, and the parents initially did not reveal Cameron was autistic.

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2011/10/autistic-teen-cameron-james-smith-missing-from-burbank-airport/


edited to add: If true it's hard to blame Delta, if not then Delta fucked up big time.

[Brickbat]

21. In that case, if that's confirmed, then yup, they fucked up.

[tammywammy]

22. I only saw that said in the one article

I'll wait for further confirmation before I condemn Delta or the parents. Either way, I hope they find the young man soon.

[Brickbat]

23. Agreed -- it's a mess any way you look at it. Poor kid.

[tammywammy]

25. Here's a second story that says he wasn't listed as a UM

Airline officials say Smith was not registered on the flight as an unaccompanied minor.
http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-missing-autistic-boy-burbank-airport,0,2517384.story


Glad to hear he was found.

[kestrel91316]

11. Who in their right mind puts an autistic child alone on a plane,

trusting that some CORPORATION concerned only with profits will get him safely to his destination?

WTF???

[Brickbat]

15. Why not? It's possible he's traveled well before.

[kestrel91316]

16. When I was little, we rode in the back of our station wagon unanchored

by seat belts - across the US on summer vacations. Not sure the car had any. And nobody died. But it doesn't mean it was a smart thing to do.

In 2011 parents ought to know better.

[Brickbat]

17. We have no idea where he falls on the spectrum; it's possible he travels well, and his parents are

likely the best judge of that. Put the blame where it belongs: on the airline.

[Diclotican]

18. kestrel91316

kestrel91316

It was not "ILLEGAL" To not have seat belts in the early 1980s either - but it dosen't took long time, before seat belts was the only way to ancor us when we was out traveling - to be honest, I cant rembember when sitting in a car, withouth seat belts..

But I know, that really old cars (pre 1976) dosen't allways had seat belts in the back, and that for some reason or another, often are the case even today, that this old cars have limited itself to the seat belts in the front only..

But, it was a lot of injuries, and many was killed by car accidents, when you dosent had seat belts on, it is verry clear from the evidences, who have piled up sinse the early 1970s, that seat belts save lifes.. I know it from personal experience as I crashed a car many years ago.. If it haven't been for the seat belts, I would posible be quiet dead now...

But yes, by 2011 parents ought to know better - but in this case, maybe the airline Delta also have some fault, for not keeping an eye on the kid?.. We must just hope, that the kid are in no harms way, and safe.. The world is a dangrous place this days.. Many predators out there praying on children who are lost..

Diclotican

[kickysnana]

26. Because my brother had to fly to Detroit when TSA wouldn't let him board the plane back because...

wait for it... he was acting "weird". He was 17 at the time. Therapist encouraged it. Some sort of gaming convention, I think.

Disclaimer: I think all 17 year old boys act weird but they can fly as long as they don't do anything illegal. Before I had my own, I thought that boys between 11 and 24 should be sent off like the rogue elephants where I didn't have to deal with them. However that was not a majority opinion and I did change my mind on that. Yeah, he is weird, just not dangerous. Get a clue!

[Odin2005]

32. As an Autistic person, this is why all this security BS scares the crap out of me.

Many of these security people are trained to look for certain kinds of "abnormal mannerisms". Autistics, by definition, have "abnormal mannerisms". I rock, I fidget, I have eye tics, all which would make security people think I'm "dangerous".

[Odin2005]

31. It's likely he is a high-functioning individual and has done it before.

Thanks for insinuating that all of us autistic people can't take care of ourselves. :eyes:

[lapislzi]

35. Unaccompanied minor:

You pay extra (quite a bit extra) for this service. An airline staff member must be with the child AT ALL TIMES, even in the bathroom. The child must wear special ID. Handoff from staff member to staff member, or staff member to parent is by signature and ID only. This is a serious, serious breach of security.

I have sent my own child, and stepchildren, unaccompanied minor and never had a bad experience. One time the flight experienced a long delay, and the staffer made sure the kid was fed and comfortable for several hours. And once, my daughter had a tight connection, and they whizzed her to her gate in one of the golf carts. They are supposed to treat the kids like royalty because parents are paying a premium for the service.

There is no excuse for this, none at all, ever.

[tammywammy]

37. It appears that the parents told the airline he was 15

they didn't pay an unaccompanied minor fee.

http://laist.com/2011/10/21/boy_who_escaped_burbank_airport_has.php
"Smith's mother also reportedly told the airline that he is 15, which means that she didn't have to pay for him to fly accompanied. When he went missing, she told authorities that he is 14, then later told them that he's 15."

[lamp_shade]

12. Bookmarking. Please let us know if he's found, okay?

[Pied Piper]

13. A few years ago I flew my nephews to visit me in Boston

They were 12 and 14 at the time. I paid the fee and we fortunately had great service. Their dad had to stay at the gate at their hometown airport until the airplane was airborne. When they got to Detroit, they were the first ones off the plane, they were escorted to their connecting flight and were the first ones on that plane. When they got to Boston, I had to show ID ahead of time, and when the boys got off the plane, they had to positively identify me before the agent would release them to me. As a safety measure, they had their mom's cell phone with them with my number pre-programed. And this was on Delta, by the way. For their return flight, I had to stay at the gate until the airplane was airborne. The service was totally worth the fee, but the rules must have changed recently.

I hope they find that boy.

[MrsBrady]

14. some at Delta are going to be in big trouble, i think

on second thought....

If everyone got off the plane, then why was he not looked after...

did they forget about him? did he get away? did he purposefully leave?
how bad is his autism?

[riderinthestorm]

19. I put my 15 year old unaccompanied teen on a plane last week but I damn well waited at the gate for

that plane to take off. You simply have to ask the flight attendant to tell you that its in the air. I would never assume everything's okay until it's gone.

These parents are IDIOTS! An autistic kid??!! Wow! I wouldn't even leave the airport for an hour after my normal kid was on the plane!

[Liberal_in_LA]

30. The plane had left the gate, then returned so the parents may have seen the plane taxi off

before they left.

[JohnnyLib2]

24. update: found, ok.

Edited to a better link.

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2011/10/autistic-teen-cameron-james-smith-missing-from-burbank-airport/

[emilyg]

27. ty

[lamp_shade]

28. Thank you so much.

[Liberal_in_LA]

29. thanks!

[Odin2005]

33. Good!

[JohnnyLib2]

34. Thursday update: found ordering a cocktail!!

I'd like to know this boy.

http://laist.com/2011/10/20/missing_autistic_boy_found_ordering.php

[Liberal_in_LA]

36. ahh... so he was looking for some freedom. Glad he's ok

can't say I'd want to be sent to a boarding school in Utah.