KLM refused to cooperate with the Dutch authorities last year in the deportation of child asylum seekers Lili and Howick, Armenian by origin.

The Dutch airline canceled their tickets just a day before they set to be on a flight to Armenia, NL Times reported quoting NOS agency.

The case has received considerable attention in the Netherlands, and the children were closely followed by the media.

KLM confirmed for NOS that they canceled the tickets but added that they did not want to further comment on individual cases.

Armina Hambartsjumian was deported nine years after she came to the Netherlands with Howick and Lili. The children, then aged 12 and 13, went into hiding to avoid being sent back. Junior justice minister Mark Harbers has used his right of discretion to grant residency permits to two children who were threatened with deportation. Armina was also allowed to come back to the Netherlands.