UAE: Missing Autistic Indian Teen, 18, Found Safe in Dubai

Sharjah: An 18-year-old autistic boy, Felix Jeby Thomas, reported missing from Sharjah on Saturday night, was discovered at Dubai International Airport late on Sunday, as confirmed by his father, Jeby Thomas.

Felix was reunited with his family after a vigilant passenger noticed him at the airport and promptly informed the family, according to a statement from his father early this morning.

“He is safe, but exhausted,” Jeby Thomas stated over the phone from Kuwaiti Hospital in Sharjah, where Felix is currently admitted.

Felix went missing from City Centre in Sharjah during a shopping trip with his mother and younger sister. Sharjah Police initiated a search after the family filed a missing report, given Felix’s communication challenges.

The family, originally from the south Indian state of Kerala, posted missing reports on social media and sought assistance from local buildings to review CCTV footage in an effort to locate him.

After more than 24 hours of anxiety, Jeby Thomas received a call from a fellow Keralite who had traveled through Dubai International Airport.

“The passenger grew suspicious after seeing my son at the airport without any documents and nobody to accompany him. After landing in Kuwait, he checked the news and social media and contacted me, asking if my son was missing. That is how we got to know Felix was at the airport.”

Jeby Thomas’s nephew and a friend rushed to the airport and found Felix. Meanwhile, the parents went to the hospital, where Jeby Thomas expressed, “He is too tired. He had not slept, and his legs were swollen after walking for a long time. So, we wanted to get him treated first.”

Jeby Thomas extended his gratitude to the passenger who assisted in finding his son and expressed appreciation for the collaborative efforts in the search. “We want to thank the police, the church members, the school (Al Ibtisama Centre for People with Disabilities in Sharjah), the team from my company, the media, friends, relatives, and all the people who helped through social media and in person.”

“We are extremely happy that Felix has been reunited with his family. Around 100 people from the Nesto team were there in person to offer moral support to Jeby and to search for Felix,” mentioned a spokesperson from Nesto Hypermarket, where Jeby Thomas works.

The father added that the family had been advised to visit the police station later in the day to officially close the case.