Thiruvananthapuram: A 13-year-old girl who went missing from Thiruvananthapuram was traced on Thursday evening at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in New Delhi after allegedly boarding a commercial flight alone, triggering an immediate probe by Kerala Police and airport authorities.

According to local media reports on Friday, Delhi Police located the girl after she arrived on a flight from Thiruvananthapuram without adult supervision.

“We have initiated a detailed investigation into how the minor was able to complete the check-in and boarding process and travel between two states unaccompanied,” a senior officer in Thiruvananthapuram was quoted as saying.

The girl, the daughter of migrant Bengali parents living in Vizhinjam, had been reported missing from her home around 7 am on Thursday. Her parents filed a complaint soon after.

Investigators learned from an autorickshaw driver that he had taken her to the airport. Police then confirmed through airport officials that she had boarded a flight to Delhi. The city police commissioner immediately alerted IGIA authorities, who detained the girl on arrival.

It remains unclear how the teenager obtained her ticket. Police are investigating whether someone else provided it. Airport sources suggested that standard procedures for unaccompanied minors may have been overlooked or deliberately bypassed.

A special Kerala Police team has been sent to Delhi to complete legal formalities and escort her home.

The case comes days after a 13-year-old Afghan boy was found wandering on the runway at Delhi airport after surviving a dangerous journey from Kabul in the landing gear compartment of a Kam Air passenger flight.

IANS