Couple told mid-flight they'd left child behind

how do you not know where your THREE YEAR OLD is?

how does any responsible parent not know where their THREE YEAR OLD CHILD is?????

Makes not a lick of sense to me. This goes along with the many stories of parents who leave their child strapped in a car on a hot day with the windows rolled up.

O.K. Just how stupid do you have to be? Its not as if this poor child was a new addition, she was three years old. How do you not remember you have five kids? Maybe its suppose to play out like Home Alone....Child gets forgotten at the airport, gets into some funny situations and everyone is reunited at the end with alot of hugging and laughing... oh well!.... Seriously, this couple should have made a better attempt at birth control, this is not something that could happen to anyone, you have to be truly stupid to actually forget one of your own offspring. I wonder how much attention she got at home for her to be that easily forgotten.

Interesting story.....coming from a family of eight kids, with a childhood full of traveling abroad since birth,my parents never left a kid behind in any airport, any motel or shop or country for that matter.
We did a lot of traveling with no nanny. My parents not only put the safety of their children first, they were able to take care of their international business that supported our family.
The toddlers under the age of 5 were harnessed together with walker braces. The baby(of the time) in a stroller and the rest of the kids were to hold hands with each other...whether you liked it or not.
With the parameters of security nowadays, I find it even more interesting (as well as disturbing) that the parents could not stay in control of their children in a high risk area.
40 minutes.....what can I say? Yeeesh

To say that these parents are negligent is an understatement and there are two factors that indicate this. The first is the fact that they could even forget a child. If they were even making sure their children had seat belts on, a basic check, they would have realized one was missing.

The second factor is that they have 5 children. In a world as overpopulated as we have with as much strain on resources as it is facing, stealing from your child's future to satisfy your own desire for a large family is in itself negligent of the well being of your children.

blame bush!

they probably thought the kid was checked w/the luggage... which I think would be a good policy to save the rest of us travelors the agony of flying with brats.

Why would the police wait until AFTER their vacaction to question them? These parents should be investigated for child neglect. What would have happened to the little girl had the police officer not spotted her? This story could have ended much worse.

That family is lucky a police officer found their child and not a pedophile or some woman who always wanted a child but could never have one.

HELLO????? How stupid can you be to forget your child? I see this happening too often nowadays. Unfortunately, it has also been tragic, as with children being left in hot vehicles.

If your life is TAT busy, you need to slow it down and take time to notice your children and your family.

I think charges should be brought up on this family, and that will teach them to watch it in the future.

says emmie-405683: how does any responsible parent not know where their THREE YEAR OLD CHILD is?????

That's my question, also. In addition, I would ask: "What about the other 4 children in this family? How did they not notice that their sister was missing? Are they all babies and this 3-year old is the eldest?"

Why was it important to report that the family was Jewish?

Just asking

They remember their 18 suitcases and all the duty free goodies, but forget family? ANy IQ between the two of them? And to paopao and crowell, that would have been added even if they were not jewish. STick to the point.

This is absurd! Suspicion of Negligence??? No!! Charge for Negligence is more like it!! 30-40 minutes after they're in the air, someone else has to inform them that they've left behind an innocent baby that can't do for herself??!! Jail time should be considered. So what if they mentioned they were Jewish? Every report ever done tries to provide as much info. as available. You shouldn't be offended because they mentioned the couple was Jewish! No one's going to stereotype because of that. They're just stupid, ignorant, negligent and cold-hearted INDIVIDUALS.

I don't know where some of these parents today have there head!! If you can't take care of your children-for heavens sake-don't have them!!! What happened to the days when your children were put first and foremost before anything and anyone else. If you are so preoccupied and busy that you can't give them the full attention that they need and deserve, please don't have them!

I can see how this might happen if you weren't attentive because you are thinking about the flight, luggage etc. I remember when our son was about 3 and he would run around in crowds so much that we finally had to get one of those harnesses and leashes for him, although we hated them and once swore we would never use one. Now we only had two children (his sister never did much running away), but they had five. I am sure they are embarrassed and shamed, at least I hope they are, and will remember to count noses from now on. It's a good lesson for all parents!

Just another of the hundreds (thousands!) of folks I see on a daily basis who had no business whatsoever procreating. In my state there are stricter prerequisits to ADOPT A DOG than there are to pop out babies. The actions of the people in this story make me hurl!

They were allowed to bring their duty free shopping and 18 suitcases aboard the plane?

I know where my 4 year old is every second of every day. PUHLEEEZE.

40 minutes into the flight and they still had to be told??? COME ON!!!

what about the airlines when you check in , don't they check that everyone is together , I think that it was a simple mistake , all the excitment in boarding , granted they should have taken head count , this is a wake up call

I work at one of the busiest airports on the east coast of the United States. I also work the international checkpoint where we see a large number of Jewish travelers. While many are extremely careful about their children, I have seen many others worry more about their belongings than their infants. Almost on a daily basis, they come through the airport carrying more than they should (or more than they are allowed) always in a hurry and there are many times we have had to remind them that they have left something behind. Sometimes, this means reminding them they have forgotten their child (left them crawling on the floor or sitting on a table or chair) or an article that is necessary for the child to travel. We attempt to tell them that they need to slow down and concentrate on their items but we are usually met with a indignant stare or just yes, yes, I know response. Many times it leaves me and my fellow employees in complete astonishment.

The Israeli Media plays up stories???? Unheard of.

I'm adult with ADHD and I have never forgotten my child...incredible.