A Malaysian woman was forced to miss her scheduled flight after discovering that her three-year-old child had doodled on her passport while she was preparing for a work trip.
The incident, which was shared on social media, quickly gained attention after the mother posted photos of the damaged travel document alongside her smiling son.
According to her account, she was packing her luggage on the evening of Jun. 6 when her young child managed to get hold of her passport without her noticing.
By the time she realised what had happened, several pages inside the passport had been marked with blue ballpoint pen drawings.
Among the sketches was what appeared to be a dinosaur, prompting the frustrated mother to jokingly declare in a follow-up post: “I hate dinosaur!”
Despite the inconvenience, the woman maintained a light-hearted attitude towards the situation and refrained from blaming her son for the mishap.
Passport Deemed Damaged
Seeking assistance, the woman travelled to the Immigration Department office in Putrajaya to determine whether the passport could still be used for travel.
However, immigration officers reportedly informed her that the passport was considered damaged and was no longer valid for international travel.
Unfortunately, the incident occurred on a Saturday, limiting her options.
As passport replacement services were unavailable over the weekend, she was unable to obtain a new passport immediately and had to wait until the following Monday before applying for a replacement.
As a result, the woman was unable to board her scheduled flight and was forced to make alternative travel arrangements.
The unexpected setback disrupted her work plans and delayed her departure by several days.
Additional Travel Costs
To continue with her trip, the woman later contacted Qatar Airways and successfully rescheduled her flight.
However, the change came at a cost.
According to her social media post, she incurred additional expenses of approximately RM620, which is equivalent to about S$204, for the flight amendment.
While the financial loss and travel disruption were frustrating, the mother chose to look on the bright side.
She joked that her son may have simply wanted her to stay home for a few extra days and spend more time with him before leaving for work.
The woman also shared that her child remained cheerful throughout the ordeal and continued smiling despite unknowingly causing the travel chaos.
A Reminder For Travellers
The incident has since sparked discussion online, with many parents sharing similar stories of young children accidentally damaging important documents and household items.
Several netizens noted that passports are considered highly sensitive travel documents and that even minor damage, unauthorised markings or torn pages can result in travellers being denied boarding or refused entry by immigration authorities.
Others praised the mother’s calm response, saying accidents involving young children can happen in a matter of seconds.
The woman also expressed gratitude towards the immigration officer who assisted her during the process, helping her understand the steps required to obtain a replacement passport.
While the unexpected dinosaur artwork may have cost her a flight and more than S$200 in additional expenses, the mother appeared determined to see the funny side of the incident and turn it into a memorable family story.