At Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Arlene stood anxiously beside her son, Justin, who was preparing for his very first solo flight. He was flying to Orlando to visit his father, Pierce — a reunion that had been years in the making since Arlene and Pierce’s divorce.
An airline attendant assured Arlene that everything was in order. Justin, traveling as an unaccompanied minor, would be carefully looked after during the flight. Though Arlene’s heart was heavy, watching her little boy walk away toward the gate, she masked her emotions with a smile. Justin, meanwhile, could barely contain his excitement at the thought of roller coasters and theme parks.
After his plane took off, Arlene grabbed a coffee and waited for that comforting call from her son. She figured she’d hear from him as soon as he landed.
Meanwhile, Pierce was standing at Orlando International Airport, nervously scanning every child coming through the gate. Minutes turned to an hour, and still — no Justin.
Confused and increasingly worried, Pierce contacted the airline’s desk. What he heard next made his blood run cold:
“There was no unaccompanied minor registered on that flight.”
Pierce immediately called Arlene. She went pale as he relayed what the airline had told him. “That can’t be right,” she said, heart pounding. “I watched him board the plane myself!”
They were both frantic, flipping through flight information and messages, trying to piece it together. That’s when Arlene realized her terrible mistake — she had sent Pierce the wrong arrival details. Instead of Orlando International, Justin had landed at Orlando Sanford International Airport, about an hour away.
Pierce didn’t waste a second. He rushed out of the airport and drove across the city, praying that his son was safe. By the time he arrived at Sanford, the staff there led him to a waiting area — and there was Justin, happily munching on a snack with a big smile.
Moments later, Arlene’s phone rang. It was Justin, joyfully shouting, “Mom! I’m with Dad! We’re going to Disney now!”
Arlene finally let out the breath she didn’t realize she was holding. The panic faded as quickly as it came, replaced by immense relief. Mistakes happen — but this one ended in a joyful reunion.