The stowaway made it all the way to Rome, remaining unnoticed during boarding card and headcount checks. He was only detected when he told fellow passengers of his escape.

When the cabin crew were alerted, the captain contacted Manchester Police who relayed his location to his relieved but very stunned mother.

CCTV images show the boy appeared to be part of a larger family group in the busy airport terminal.

Manchester airport spokesman Russell Craig told the BBC that it wasn’t technically a security breach as the child posed no threat to the plane.

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Regardless, an undisclosed number of security staff and cabin crew have been suspended pending investigation into the incident.

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