The father of a 9-year-old boy who snuck onto a plane and flew to Las Vegas says he asked for help repeatedly for his son’s behavioral problems.
Last Thursday, the boy walked onto a Delta flight to Las Vegas at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport without a boarding pass. He made it all the way to Vegas before he was discovered.
The boy’s emotional father appeared at a press conference hidden under a hoodie. The father said the troubled youth’s actions were inspired by the violent video game Grand Theft Auto.
The father said he had no idea his was in Las Vegas. “I’m a parent, I’m not perfect,” he said. “We assumed he was at a friend’s house. We had no idea where he was.”
He said the boy has never been on a plane before.
The day before his big adventure, the boy stole a truck outside a business and drove it onto an interstate. He crashed into several cars and was eventually stopped by police.
“He told the police officer, he thought he was playing Grand Theft Auto,” his father said.
He said his son is “not what you would call an honor student. He had his ups and downs.”
“I’m tired of people saying he’s a minor, there’s nothing we can do. There’s something someone can do. I don’t want him hurt. I miss my son. I want my son home,” he said.
