Polish couple face investigation 'for abandoning two-year-old daughter with expired passport at airport'

A Polish couple who jetted off on holiday after leaving their two-year-old daughter at the airport because she had an invalid passport will face a criminal investigation when they return from vacation. Airport staff reported the girl was left in tears after being abandoned at Katowice airport while the rest of her family boarded a flight to Greece.

Her parents had failed to notice that her passport had expired on May 25. Although a grandmother arrived later to collect the girl, police are investigating whether the well being of the child was threatened when her parents left, and are also checking the family's background.



"There are reports that the girl was hysterical when her mother left, and we want to check this," said Rafal Biczysko, a police spokesman. "We also want the family court to assess the care and upbringing of the child." Police will formally interview the parents when they return from their fortnight's holiday.

Cezary Orzech, spokesman for Katowice airport, explained the airport did not have the facilities to care for small children. "We have a point for lost luggage but the this is an airport is not a kindergarten," said. "We have never had a situation like this before."