A United Airlines flight attendant took swift action to help an exhausted mother on a flight from Newark, New Jersey, to Grand Rapids, Michigan. The mother had fallen asleep, and her baby began slipping from her lap. Flight attendant Monique Harris intervened, catching the child and offering to hold the baby so the mother could rest.

Passenger John Frehse witnessed the incident and shared the story on Instagram. He praised Harris for her prompt response, stating, ‘United should be very proud.’ He explained that the new mother had dozed off when her baby was about to fall. ‘Monique sprung into action and caught the child,’ Frehse wrote. ‘She then told the mother to go back to sleep – she would give her a break.’

Frehse included a photo of Harris holding the baby on the flight and noted, ‘All is not lost in the turbulent time.’ He tagged United CEO Scott Kirby in his post, mentioning his extensive travels of over 2 million miles with the airline. Describing Harris as an ‘A+ employee,’ he urged the airline to recognize her.

Harris responded to the attention in the comments, expressing her gratitude. ‘I’m in tears,’ she wrote. ‘I never do anything for recognition.’ She shared that her actions were part of her normal duties and thanked Frehse and others for their positive comments.

An email from Republic Airways, which operates flights for United and other airlines, also praised Harris. The carrier described her as an ‘extraordinary colleague and flight attendant.’ United Airlines acknowledged the viral social media post, stating its pride in having Harris as part of the team. ‘Such a great story!’ the airline remarked.