In a heartwarming incident that took place on September 2nd, a flight attendant in the United States, Monique Harris, working for Republic Airways, displayed quick reflexes and compassion by catching a baby that slipped from a tired new mother’s arms onboard a flight from New Jersey to Michigan. Harris managed to prevent the infant from getting hurt and allowed the exhausted female passenger to continue sleeping until she gained a bit more strength. Her act of kindness, once shared online, garnered widespread praise from numerous netizens.
Republic Airways, headquartered in Indiana, operates regional flights under the brands of American Eagle, Delta Connection, and United Express. The particular flight Harris was on belonged to United Express.
During the flight, Harris noticed a fatigued new mother holding her baby in her arms, trying to catch some sleep. When the baby started slipping, Harris swiftly caught the infant, reassuring the woman to continue resting.
She comforted the mother, saying, “Don’t worry, keep sleeping, I’ve got this. No need to feel embarrassed. You’re a new mom, and I understand.” After a short while, the mother took her child back.
Prior to the incident, Harris had a conversation with the woman and learned that she had traveled to Colombia while pregnant and unexpectedly gave birth there due to a flight ban, leading to their extended stay until flying back to the United States two and a half months later.
Witnessing Harris’s compassionate act was a male passenger named John Frehse, who was deeply moved. He captured a photo of Harris holding the baby in her own seat and shared the story on Instagram, receiving 300,000 likes so far. Many online users hailed Harris as a “hero”.
In an interview with “USA Today”, Frehse stated, “When I see people working on the front lines with such dedication, I know that their efforts often go unrecognized.”
Republic Airways issued a statement expressing their acknowledgment of the positive feedback received by Harris from the public and praising her as an outstanding colleague and flight attendant.
During an interview with “People” magazine, Harris shared that she had noticed the new mother’s exhaustion during their conversation, prompting her to pay extra attention to her during the flight. Reflecting on her ability to assist the woman, she said, “It was a beautiful moment.”
Harris, a mother of two daughters and four grandchildren, had worked in the education sector in Indiana for years before transitioning to become a flight attendant in March 2022.
She revealed her long-standing desire to become a flight attendant, which she pursued after raising her daughters. The shift to this new career seemed fitting for Harris, as she describes herself as someone who “never sees others as strangers” and is always ready to offer help to anyone in need.
Although her act of kindness went viral online, Harris remains humble, considering it a part of her daily job routine.
She remarked, “I don’t think it’s anything extraordinary because it’s what I do every day.”