MINNEAPOLIS — This was not the kind of travel a family envisioned when it arrived at a Minnesota airport.
A 9-year-old boy was unhurt after he took a joyride on a baggage check conveyer belt Saturday at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, KSTP reported.
According to Pat Hogan, a spokesperson for the airport, the boy was part of a group of about 20 people checking their bags, WCCO reported. The boy dived onto the bag conveyor belt near the ticketing area, the television station reported.
Hogan said initially, no one in the group noticed the boy was missing, Minnesota Public Radio News reported.
Personnel from Delta Air Lines “tried to reach for the boy” to prevent him from entering the screening and sorting area, but “they were unable to stop him,” ABC News reported.
“There was a lot of confusion because there were so many people in the group,” Hogan told Minnesota Public Radio News. “They were all checking their bags and putting their own bags on the conveyors, so it took a second for them to realize he was missing -- but as soon as they did, people sprang into action and the police were able to find him quickly.”
Police found the child unharmed about five minutes later near the bag screening equipment, KSTP reported.
Hogan said the incident will likely lead to a review of baggage system security safeguards, Minnesota Public Radio News reported.