A quick-thinking flight attendant, Shelia Fredrick, rescued a teenage girl from human trafficking on an Alaska Airlines flight from Seattle to San Francisco in 2011. Fredrick noticed the girl, who appeared to be around 14-15 years old, looked disheveled and uncomfortable sitting next to a well-dressed older man.
When Fredrick tried to engage the pair in conversation, the man became defensive and the girl remained silent. Realizing something was amiss, Fredrick left a note for the girl in the bathroom asking if she needed help. The girl responded “yes” on the note.
Fredrick informed the pilots, who alerted the authorities. Police were waiting at the San Francisco airport terminal and arrested the man upon landing. The girl was confirmed to be a victim of human trafficking.
Now attending college, the girl remains in touch with her savior, Fredrick. The incident demonstrates how much help we could be to others if only we considered other people’s affairs our business too. We cannot in good judgement, fail to mention the importance of flight attendant training to recognize signs of human trafficking, which has been implemented by airlines since 2009. Fredrick’s keen instincts and brave actions saved a young life from a terrible fate.