Nine-year-old boy runs away from home and sneaks onto flight

A nine-year-old boy who ran away from home in Minneapolis, America managed to sneak through security at the city's airport and onto a Las Vegas-bound Delta Air Lines flight.

The incident happened on Thursday and it was only when the plane landed in Las Vegas that the boy was stopped and questioned.

Delta officials told KARE-11: "We are investigating the incident and cooperating with the agencies involved."

Speaking to the Star Tribune, Metropolitan Airports Commission spokesman Patrick Hogan said the boy was screened by security agents at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport shortly after 10:30am and boarded the flight at 11.15am.

Las Vegas police met the flight when it landed and transferred the boy to child protection services. His parents are working with authorities.

Meanwhile air travel experts have criticised the airport and airline's security.

"He had to pass three levels of security," said Terry Trippler of ThePlaneRules.com.

"You have the TSA, the gate agents, and the flight crew and a child comes through without even a seat assignment."

He added: "While we are safer in the air, this proves there are still gaping holes."

According to KARE-11, the child also spent Wednesday at the airport, taking someone's luggage off a carousel, ordering food at a restaurant and asking a member of staff to watch his bag as he went to the toilet, but never returning.

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