If you are a parent, then this now-viral story is every parent’s worst nightmare, getting a phone call that your child has gone missing. And you might want to consider her advice.
This is exactly what 39-year-old Georgia mom Monica Gilliam, says she experienced after she dropped off her 12-year-old daughter at an American Airlines gate inside Chattanooga Airport about a week ago.
With this incident, American Airlines has come under fire from the photography professor Gilliam who lambasted the airline after her daughter Kimber had to find her own way out after landing without any guidance from the airline’s chaperone.
Last week, the little girl took a solo flight from Chattanooga to Miami to visit her father for three weeks. In fact, her mother had paid an additional $150 for her to be escorted through both airports and to wear a badge alerting the crew that she was travelling alone.
However, as soon as she stepped off the plane at Miami, the escorts who were paid to take care of her just grinned and waved at her. Kimber was able to contact her father, who helped her navigate the airport until they met up.
An American Airlines manager called Gilliam almost an hour after her daughter’s flight landed in Miami. The manager informed her that they did not know the whereabouts of her child and they had closed the terminal. “It’s not OK and it shouldn’t happen,” said Gilliam.
A Miami manager admitted the situation: American Airlines had no idea where her daughter was.
Gilliam explained:
“It turns out that the flight attendants waved her off the plane and said ‘bye’ and she said she didn’t know what to do so she kept going, because they were telling her ‘bye.’”
To make matters worse, Kimber was wearing a sign with her name, information and status as an unaccompanied minor.
Watch it here: GoodMorningAmerica/Youtube
More details of this unfortunate incident from The Western Journal:
In a city identified as one of the nation’s largest trafficking hubs, the potential danger from this situation is clear. The terminal was immediately shut down once the missing child was noticed, but it was too late.
The young girl began to wander around the airport.
According to Gilliam, her daughter passed American Airlines employees, airport workers and even a TSA agent unchallenged. She was eventually able to make it out of the airport’s secured area and into the baggage claim, a public area.
Even there, the unaccompanied minor was allowed to walk free.
Fortunately, she was on the phone with her dad, who was trying to talk her through the airport signs. She eventually made it to him safely.
The terrifying ordeal has left Kimber unwilling to fly again.
In a now-viral TikTok video, Gilliam explains the horrifying situation.
Watch it here: Tiktok/Video
American Airlines has opened an investigation into the matter and has offered the family free flights and limo service.
“American cares deeply about our young passengers and is committed to providing a safe and pleasant travel experience for them,” the airline told WTVC. “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.”
Gilliam is now warning other parents about the potential dangers awaiting any unaccompanied minor.
Sources: WesternJounal, WTVC
Leave a Comment