A Singaporean family’s holiday ended on a painful note after their young son was allegedly struck by an airport buggy at South Korea’s Incheon International Airport, leaving him with multiple injuries including a fractured eye socket and concussion.
The boy’s father has since appealed for witnesses while raising concerns over the handling of the incident and the lack of an official accident report.
Boy Was Returning From Toilet Before Accident Happened
According to a Facebook post by the boy’s father, the incident occurred at about 6.15pm on 17 June while the family was preparing to board Korean Air flight KE645 back to Singapore.
The family was waiting at Gate 221 when their son, Kyle, went to the toilet by himself as his parents were attending to their two other children.
As Kyle was returning, he was allegedly hit by an airport buggy. His father said he did not witness exactly how the collision occurred.
Airport and airline staff quickly responded to the situation and arranged immediate assistance for the family.
Child Suffers Multiple Serious Injuries
Following the accident, Kyle was taken to a hospital in South Korea for treatment.
Medical reports reportedly showed that he suffered several injuries, including:
- Fracture of his right eye socket
- Swelling around the eye and facial injuries
- Traumatic pneumocephalus, a condition where air enters the cranial cavity after a head injury
- Concussion
Photos shared online showed visible bruising on his forehead and severe swelling around his right eye.
The family remained in South Korea until doctors medically cleared him to travel home.
Father Praises Initial Support But Raises Concerns
Kyle’s father said Korean Air staff were initially very helpful and showed genuine concern for his son’s condition.
He said airline representatives accompanied the family to the hospital, arranged temporary accommodation and helped secure alternative flights back to Singapore.
However, he claimed the situation later became frustrating when the family allegedly requested an official accident report.
According to him, the report was needed to ensure airport CCTV footage could be preserved as evidence.
He also alleged that airline representatives repeatedly commented that his son appeared better the following day, something he said was difficult for the family to accept given the extent of the injuries.
In addition, he claimed Korean Air indicated that any assistance provided in South Korea was considered a goodwill gesture and that the airline would not be responsible for subsequent medical expenses incurred in Singapore.
Family Appeals For Witnesses As Korean Air Launches Investigation
The father is now appealing to passengers who were on the same flight itinerary and may have witnessed the accident to come forward.
Meanwhile, Korean Air told media outlets that it is currently investigating the incident.
The airline added that it will respond to the family’s requests once its internal review has been completed.
The incident has also sparked discussions online about airport safety, particularly in busy international terminals where electric buggies operate near large crowds of travellers, children and elderly passengers.