A major investigation is under way after an 11-year-old boy managed to board a flight for Rome from Manchester airport without a passport, ticket or boarding pass. It is understood he had earlier run away from home.

The boy got through a security screen by mingling with a family going through terminal 1 yesterday afternoon. He was discovered while the plane was in mid-air.

A number of airline staff have been suspended.

Russell Craig from Manchester Airport said they were taking the matter extremely seriously.