Wizz Air leaves 14-year-old Icelandic boy behind while group returns home from Rome

A troubling incident involving Wizz Air’s passenger handling has surfaced, revealing that a 14-year-old Icelandic boy was left stranded in Italy while the rest of his group flew home.

Icelandic boy denied boarding in Rome

Photo: depositphotos.com

The boy was travelling with a group in Italy and was preparing to return home when Wizz Air staff informed him that he would not be allowed to board the flight. His mother, who was anxiously waiting at home, was unable to get any assistance from the airline.

The problem stemmed from overbooking; Wizz Air stated there was not enough room on the plane for all passengers, resulting in the boy, Alfred, being left behind at the Rome airport, according to a report by Bors based on an Austrian newspaper, Kronen Zeitung. Alfred, an Icelandic teenager, was part of a youth group travelling with a chaperone. On 10 August, just before their flight to Reykjavik, the airline suddenly announced the plane was overbooked and there was no space for Alfred.

The chaperone faced a difficult choice: either stay with Alfred, leaving the other seven youths to fly alone, or leave Alfred at the gate and travel with the rest of the group. After consulting with Alfred’s mother, Arna, the decision was made to leave Alfred behind.

Boy’s mother receives no assistance from Wizz Air

The plane departed without the Icelandic boy. Arna was frustrated by the lack of assistance from the airline, but eventually, a couple whose flight had been cancelled and who were also stranded in Rome helped Alfred retrieve his luggage.

The situation was further complicated because the next Wizz Air flight to Reykjavik was a week away, so the boy’s mother had to purchase a ticket on a different, much more expensive flight. The same couple who assisted Alfred on his return journey also helped ensure he arrived home safely.

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