$3K Gone After This Mumfluencer’s Son Packed A Toy Gun For A Trip

A Singapore mumfluencer learnt an expensive travel lesson after her family missed their flight because her son packed a toy gun in his carry-on bag.

On Mar 15, Sharon Tang (@missysharont) shared on Instagram that she was at Changi Airport with her husband, music producer Jim Ling, and their seven-year-old twins, Scarlett and Sovereign, for a family holiday to China when the incident occurred.

Toy gun discovered at security

The family had already cleared immigration and was heading to the security screening area to board their flight at 8.05am. 

When their bags went through the X-ray machine, officers spotted that Sovereign had placed a toy gun in his carry-on bag.

“We immediately offered to dispose of the toy so we could continue to the gate, but we were told clearance from AETOS officers was required first,” Sharon shared, blaming themselves as parents for not checking Sovereign’s bag carefully enough.

With no other choice, the family of four had to stand aside and wait for auxiliary police officers to arrive and assess the situation.

Time slowly ticked away

According to Sharon, the fam waited for more than 25 minutes before the officers arrived. By then, they had only about 15 minutes left before departure.

She said the airline informed them that they could only hold the gate until the official departure time, so every minute spent waiting at security felt extra stressful.

“When the officers finally arrived, there were only about three minutes left, and the gate was already in the process of closing. They still had to follow procedures — discussing the situation and writing the necessary statement before clearing us,” Sharon recounted, adding that they felt “incredibly helpless”. 

“At that moment we were panicking and pleading if things could move a little faster,” she wrote. 

Flight missed, $3,000 lesson

Alas, those few minutes made all the difference and the family missed their flight.

The fam eventually had to rebook new tickets on China Southern Airlines, which set them back about $3,000.

Sovereign was, understandably, in trouble.

Sharon admitted to scolding her son, but later reflected on her reaction and shared this on an Instagram story:

“Seeing Sovereign’s sad face when I scolded him for having a toy gun in his bag really hit me. At that moment, like most parents, our instinct was to blame him — but the truth is, it wasn’t really his fault. He was just so excited about the trip. Moments like these remind me that as parents, we carry the responsibility to guide and protect them, even when our first reaction is to point fingers.”

After settling the toy gun drama, the parents finally checked his bag properly and realised Sovereign had also packed a toy sword. Clearly, he was ready for battle, not boarding. Whether the sword actually made it onto the plane, though, remains anyone’s guess.

Finally made it to China

Despite the rocky start, Sharon and her family eventually managed to get on their way.

She later posted an update saying they landed in China at around 6pm after “almost 12 hours on the road”, followed by a two-hour drive to their hotel, calling it “a very long day”.

“Left for the airport at 6am and only finally checked into our hotel room past 11pm. It’s been a very long day, but despite everything that happened, we’re just grateful the family is safe and sound. No matter the obstacles, we get through them together as a family,” she wrote.

PSA to parents

Sharon stressed that she was sharing the post not to blame anyone, as the situation started from their own oversight.

Instead, she wanted it to be a reminder to fellow parents: always double-check your kids’ hand-carry bags. Even a toy can trigger security protocols. According to Changi Airport’s website, firearms of any kind, including replicas and toys, are prohibited.

In another story, she added a practical warning for travellers:

“Please do not even try to bring handcuffs, even toy ones, in your hand carry. Once you get through the security clearance, even if you want to dispose [of them], it is not allowed. They will call AETOS for clearance. They’re not located in the same building so by the time they come and take your statement, you can kiss your flight goodbye.”

Eventually, Sharon decided to “take it all in stride”.

“It was an expensive lesson, but also a valuable one, and no one is to blame. As parents, we embrace the responsibility for our children’s safety and experiences,” she said.