A United Airlines flight attendant is being praised after catching a baby who was about to tumble from an exhausted new mother’s lap during a flight.
Monique Harris, an Indiana native in her 50s, sprang into action last week on the Newark-to-Grand Rapids, Michigan route when the sleeping mother lost hold of her infant. Fellow passenger John Frehse, who has logged more than two million miles with the carrier, documented the moment on Instagram Thursday and urged United’s leadership to take notice.
Frehse, a seasoned United frequent flier, directed his post at CEO Scott Kirby’s account. “United should be very proud,” he wrote on Instagram. “A new (and exhausted) mother fell asleep and her baby was about to fall out of her lap.”
“Monique sprung into action and caught the child,” Frehse continued. “She then told the mother to go back to sleep – she would give her a break. All is not lost in the turbulent time.”
He crowned Harris an “A+ employee” in the same post, adding “Take note” alongside Kirby’s handle.
Harris herself was overwhelmed by the viral attention. “I’m in tears,” she wrote on Instagram. “I appreciate all of the love and acknowledgments [sic] to God be all the Glory!!! God is my witness. I never do anything for recognition.”
She expressed genuine surprise at how her instinctive response resonated so widely. “I had no idea that being my normal natural self would grow into such a priceless moment!!!”
The airline’s official social media account responded to Frehse’s post with an emoji of a face with happy tears, stopping short of any formal statement about recognition for Harris.
Online commenters quickly pressed United for concrete action on Harris’s behalf. “What a gem!” one user wrote. “United, big raise.”
“United you need to give her a bonus for excellent customer service and caring for her fellow human beings,” another chimed in.
“Now that is being of service,” a third added. “Monique needs a raise and an extra 2 weeks of vacation IMMEDIATELY.”
The incident unfolded during a routine domestic flight when the new mother, described by Frehse as exhausted, dozed off with her baby in her arms. The infant began to slip from her grasp before Harris intervened, then assumed care of the child so the mother could continue resting.
Frehse’s Instagram testimony transformed what might have remained an unremarked cabin moment into a widely circulated story of workplace compassion, with his two-million-mile credibility lending weight to his endorsement of Harris’s conduct.
Harris’s remarks emphasized that she viewed her intervention as unexceptional, attributing any praise to divine purpose rather than personal distinction.
The episode has renewed periodic social media campaigns calling for airlines to formally reward frontline staff whose exceptional service draws public attention, though United has not announced any specific recognition for Harris beyond its emoji response.