Parents cannot be by their children’s sides 24/7, and occasionally their youngsters end up in dangerous situations—a mother learned this the hard way, and she expected the worst when she received a shocking phone call. Parents will do anything to ensure the safety of their little ones, but sometimes they hand over the responsibility of their wellbeing to another adult. Sadly, people aren’t always as alert and aware as they should be!
A mom and dad shared their daughter’s story, describing the terrible period they learned she was nowhere to be found. The parents wanted to warn other guardians so no one else experienced the same fears they did. When a mom from Chattanooga, Tennessee, dropped her beloved child at the airport in 2022, she believed the experience would go smoothly. Monica Gilliam was sending her 12-year-old daughter, Kimber, to visit her dad.
He was from Miami, and the youngster eagerly boarded the plane, wearing a tag indicating she was an unaccompanied minor. When she arrived, however, things did not go as planned. Kimber’s father had not yet arrived at the airport when the American Airlines (AA) flight arrived early. A flight attendant was assigned to accompany the child until she was safely under the protection of her parent.
According to reports, the AA has guidelines outlining the procedure for children aged five to fourteen. They provide a service for these minors that ensures they are safe while traveling alone. When Kimber got off the plane, she said the flight attendants waved at her as she walked past them. Nobody, according to reports, offered the little girl any assistance, and she was terrified, not knowing what to do or where to go.
Kimber continued walking because the flight attendants had said their goodbyes. As a result, she found herself in a crowded airport with a tag indicating that she had no adult supervision. “So, she [was] going through the airport with that billboard on her that she was an unaccompanied minor in one of the country’s largest human trafficking hubs,” Gilliam continued.
“The thought of what could have happened is unbearable,” the mother added. Her child was an easy target for any potential criminals, and Gilliam’s world came crashing down when she received a phone call that no parent wanted to receive. The mother vividly remembered discovering her child wandering an airport alone, possibly scared or worse—kidnapped. Gilliam claimed:
“I received a call from American Airlines almost an hour after her flight landed. It was Miami’s [AA] manager… ‘Your child is missing,’ he says. We’ve turned off the terminal. We have no idea where she is.'” Gilliam was furious that the AA staff had failed to protect her daughter. She spent an hour terrified and imagining all of the possible outcomes, all of which ended in disaster.
Without any adult assistance, Kimber managed to contact her dad. He was shocked to discover his child was not in the care of flight personnel, so he used video calling services to direct his daughter through the busy airport. By reading the signs, he led her to the baggage claiming terminal, where he eventually reunited with her. The mother and father were relieved that nothing terrible had happened to their child, but they were furious. The angered mom expressed:
“You failed her, and you didn’t do your job. And it could’ve been the last time I saw my daughter.” The parents shared their experience online, and it quickly went viral. Gilliam said the incident was “not okay,” insisting that it shouldn’t have happened. She added:”I don’t want this to happen to anybody else, and if your child is flying an unaccompanied flight with American Airlines, then consider that.
Commenters had varying opinions, and some blamed the mother for allowing her daughter to travel alone. However, many also indicated that parents should be able to rely on the airline’s promises. AA responded to the claims made by Kimber’s mother and father. They noted that the flight attendant had been suspended and stated: “We take these matters very seriously and are looking into what occurred.
A member of our team has reached out to the customer to learn more about their experience.” Sadly, the damage was done, and a terrified Kimber told her mom she was no longer comfortable flying. Gilliam explained that she made plans to drive down to collect her daughter once the visit with her dad was over. Adults who don’t act responsibly can create dangerous situations for the children in their care.
How would you react if your child went missing, and do you think the suspension was adequate punishment for the flight attendant? Please share this little girl’s experience so that other parents know the dangers their kids might face when traveling alone. While many places have safety protocols for minors, it is a good idea to double-check and insist on extra care.