An 11-year-old boy named Liam Corcoran was able to pass through airport security in the United Kingdom and board a flight to Rome without a passport or boarding pass. His mother was unaware that he was missing until receiving a call from flight attendants upon arrival in Rome. The incident questions the effectiveness of current airport security measures and may lead to changes that improve checks of travel documents and monitoring of unaccompanied minors.

1. A Trip To Rome
By: Alexis & Olivia

2. His Trip
Liam Corcoran, 11, got away from his mother at
the shopping centre 3 miles away from the
airport, he then walked to the airport and
passed through security, without a passport or
boarding pass, and off to Rome he went! His trip
was a total of 1,365 miles.

3. What effect does airport security have
on travelers?
If an 11 year old boy can get through security
checks and make it to Rome, who can’t?
Especially since the 9/11 event, security at
airports has changed a lot.

4. Wouldn’t his mother notice her child was missing?
If she wasn’t aware of this until he was already at
the airport, she obviously didn’t pay much
attention, or care very much.
Ms. Corcoran stated that she never knew her son
was missing until she received a call from the flight
attendant in Rome. Kids can fly somewhere alone,
but when other people start to question why a kid
is flying alone, it becomes a big suspicion.

5. The little boy’s trip to Rome may affect the
future at airports. Kids may never be able to ride
alone on a flight again. The security checks at
airports may improve. Security might double
check every passport, tickets and maybe have
extra security at the gates of the plane. Changes
may be made to different International Airports.