On a flight in 2011 a flight attendant trusted her instinct and saved a teenage girl's life. Shelia Frederick immediately felt like something was off when an older man and his teenage travel companion had apparent differences.
Frederick told WTSP, "Something in the back of my mind said something is not right. He was well dressed, thatās what kind of got me because why is he well-dressed and she is looking disheveled and out of sorts."
She also said that the man would not let the teenager speak for herself, even to basic service questions that flight attendants ask all travelers.
Frederick was able to tell the girl, under her breath, to go to the bathroom where she left a note and the girl responded that she needed help. The veteran flight attendant notified the captain who called the police and they were able to rescue the girl and arrest the man.
Programs are now in place to train already observant flight-attendants to notice the signs of sex trafficking.
Frederick worries that she could've missed other cases but she asks flight attendants and others to say something if they see something suspicious.
"Iāve been a flight attendant for 10 years and itās like I am going all the way back to when I was in training, and I was like, I could have seen these young girls and young boys and didnāt even know."--Shelia Frederick