An Iraqi child succeeded in penetrating the international airport in Najaf governorate, south of Baghdad, and tried to approach a plane before taking off, in a strange and remarkable event that caused the dismissal of a prominent official at the airport.

And Iraqi media quoted a local source as saying that the child, who is no more than 10 years old, toured the airport since the early hours of the morning without anyone stopping him, before heading to the runway.

And Iraqi media indicated that "the child arrived on an Iranian plane that was preparing to leave, when the plane's security man stopped him, and asked him about the ticket, and the child replied that he did not intend to travel, but rather wanted to return to his home in the Al-Brakiya area in Najaf governorate."

The source added to the media, "Following the incident, the plane's security man informed the cockpit, and all the passengers were taken down and returned to the waiting area, for the purpose of checking again and verifying the presence of previous reservations, which caused a delay of the plane's takeoff by about two hours."

There were conflicting reports about the reason for the child’s entry to the airport. While activists spoke that the child was a beggar and was trying to ask for money from passengers, other activists spoke that the child took a taxi to return to his home, and its driver took him to the airport by mistake.

According to the media, the administration of Najaf Airport decided to relieve the director of control at the airport from his post in the wake of the incident.

#Iraq - Exempting the director of control at Najaf airport against the backdrop of the security breach represented by the entry of a child beggar and the arrival of an Iranian plane that was preparing to take off to #Iran, in order to request “gifts from travelers” pic.twitter.com/Pp8ylknvko

— The Iraqi Press Network +INP (@INPPLUSarabi) May 24, 2022

sarcasm and anger

The story of the little boy's penetration of Najaf International Airport and his arrival on the runway provoked wide reactions on social media platforms in Iraq, which varied between sarcastic about the situation and angry at the mismanagement.

The journalist Ahmed Al-Tayeb, through his Twitter account, described the situation of Najaf Airport after the child penetrated it as being closer to a public garage, such as the "Al-Nahda" and "Al-Alawi" garages in Baghdad, indicating that the arrival of a beggar inside the airport means that he knows someone who works there.

Najaf airport turns into Al-Alawi garage and is likely to be a garage for the Renaissance!!!


A beggar delivers air to Wegde???


Sure this has a custom 👀

- Ahmed Al-Tayeb (@Ahmd_Altaib) May 24, 2022

Journalist Abdul Latif Al-Hajul asked, via his Twitter account, "If a beggar child managed to reach the plane and disrupted the flight for two hours, what would it be like if he was a terrorist?"

Najaf Airport enters a state of alert after a child "beggar" breached airport security and reached a plane preparing to take off for the purpose of "givedah" of passengers

A "beggar" child arrived on the plane and delayed the flight for two hours. Ok, so if he was a terrorist, how would he be like this???

If in another country, the airport security will be completely replaced and the manager will dismiss him immediately

— Abdulateef Alhajwel (@Alhajwel1) May 24, 2022

Iraqi journalist Jumana Mumtaz said, through her Twitter account, "Are these children really or intentionally beggars? Is there someone who is taking advantage of their childhood? If there is someone who is exploiting them, why doesn't the state rush to save them?"


She added, "It is a clear phenomenon and in front of everyone's eyes in the most famous streets of the provinces. I hope that the incident of a beggar child breaching the security barriers at Najaf Airport will be a motive to rid them of an unknown future."

Are these children really or intentionally beggars?

Is there someone who is exploiting their childhood? If there is someone who is exploiting them, why does the state not rush to save them?


A clear phenomenon and in front of everyone's eyes in the most famous streets of the provinces.

I hope that the incident of a child beggar breaching the security barriers at #Najaf_Airport will be a motive to rid them of an unknown future pic.twitter.com/xzoJvj1qCi

— Jumana Mumtaz (@jumana_mumtaz) May 24, 2022

Journalist Falah Al-Mishal commented, via his Twitter account, in a different way, saying, "A smart beggar because travelers fill their pockets with dollars. This boy has a prosperous future in Iraq."

A beggar boy breaks into Najaf airport and boards the plane for the purpose of begging "Al-Geddiya". A smart beggar because travelers are filling their pockets with dollars. This boy has a prosperous future in Iraq.

pic.twitter.com/AmuQEf1xSi

- Falah Al-Mishaal (@Falah_Almashal) May 24, 2022