Toddler locked in plane's overhead bin, says report

(CBS) - Officials in Australia say a Virgin Blue flight attendant was fired after a mother claimed he locked her 17-month-old son in the plane's overhead compartment bin for ten seconds in total darkness.

Natalie Williamson told the Sunday Herald Sun that three months ago her family was traveling on a Virgin flight from Fiji to Sydney when the male flight attendant grabbed her son Riley and placed him in the overhead bin, shutting the door.

"My husband, Shayne, was standing one meter behind my son, Riley, when the air steward picked him up and placed him in the overhead compartment," she told the paper.

Virgin confirmed with the newspaper that the incident did occur, stating that Williamson's husband and the flight attendant were playing "peek-a-boo" with the toddler.

"We conducted a thorough investigation of the incident and the staff member involved was subsequently terminated," a Virgin spokeswoman told the paper.

Williamson was offered free flights but is too angry to redeem them.

According to the Sunday Herald Sun, since the incident Williamson claims her son, who is now 20-months-old, suffers from anxiety and withdrawal.