A family were escorted off a Thomas Cook flight by armed police after fellow guests raised concerns of child abuse on a package holiday.
The mum, dad and young children, from Liverpool, were taken off the flight by armed police when their flight landed back at Manchester Airport.
They had been holidaying at the Atlantique Holiday Club resort in Turkey on a two week package deal - but their trip was cut short amid concerns for their children's welfare.
Thomas Cook moved the family to another nearby hotel until they could be placed on the next available flight.
The travel agent also booked two separate rooms, requiring the father of the family to stay separately from his wife and children on the final night of their trip.
Staff from the travel agency were stationed on the same floor of the new hotel, as a safeguarding measure.
Despite booking a two week package deal with the travel agent, the ECHO understands that the family's stay was cut short by several days when Thomas Cook booked them an earlier flight.
The flight left Western Turkey and landed in Manchester Airport the following day.
Officers from Greater Manchester Police's airport policing team were at the airport, along with social services, ready to escort the family off the plane.
The ECHO understands several guests and hotel staff raised concerns over the children's welfare.
One claim relates to a child being struck around the back of the head, with another allegation that a different child was dunked in the holiday pool by their feet.
In a statement shared with the ECHO, a spokeswoman for Thomas Cook said: “We have a duty of care to all of our customers, and have clear policies in place, including a child protection policy, which we will not hesitate to act upon to ensure the wellbeing of our customers and colleagues.”
The ECHO understands the family concerned deny any allegations of child abuse or neglect and are refuting the claims.
Social services are understood to have become involved once the family arrived back in the UK. However, a spokeswoman for the authority said: “We are unable to publicly comment on individual cases”.
Merseyside Police confirmed Greater Manchester Police were involved in escorting a family off a Thomas Cook flight.
The ECHO understands the force are now involved in a safeguarding capacity, along with other local agencies.
