When a man and a teenage girl boarded a flight from Seattle to San Francisco, Shelia Frederick, a flight attendant for Alaska Airlines, became suspicious. The man was well-dressed, while the girl appeared disheveled and avoided making eye contact with anyone. As Shelia continued her duties onboard, she couldn’t shake the unsettling feeling about the girl. Eventually, Shelia devised a brilliant plan that took real courage—a plan that would ultimately save the young girl from a dangerous situation. On February 6, 2017, Shelia Frederick became a hero. Unable to ignore her suspicions, Shelia attempted to make eye contact with the girl while serving snacks.
She shared her concerns with a colleague, and together, they distracted the man while Shelia tried to signal to the girl. “Finally, she looked up, and the look in her eyes was just heartbreaking, so I excused myself to go to the bathroom and broke down,” Shelia recalled during an interview.
She had a brilliant idea: she placed a pen and a piece of paper in one of the airplane’s restrooms and locked it, intending it to be reserved for the girl. While her colleague kept the man distracted, Shelia pointed to the restroom and pretended to write.
She waited anxiously, hoping the girl would understand. Thankfully, the girl excused herself to go to the bathroom, and although the man followed, Shelia stayed close. “I left a message in the restroom,” Shelia explained. “She responded with, ‘I need help.’” Shelia immediately informed the pilot, who contacted ground control, and the authorities were ready to arrest the man upon landing.
Shelia has stayed in touch with the girl, who is now attending university, according to The Western Journal. “If you see something, say something,” Shelia advises others. Share this to remind people to trust their instincts and honor the courageous Shelia Frederick. She is an inspiring role model for us all.
