"Kids Flying Alone May Be Targets Of Airport Predators"

Friday, February 4, 2005

Kids Flying Alone May Be Targets Of Airport Predators
WKMG-TV Ch 6 (CBS), Orlando (FL)


ORLANDO, Fla. -- Children who fly commercial airlines without their parents
may be at the mercy of airport predators, according to an exclusive Problem
Solvers report. 

Local 6 News featured a family who has filed a lawsuit alleging their
daughter was assaulted after being left unprotected by an airline that was
paid to keep her safe.

The girl's parents paid an extra fee as part of an unaccompanied minor
program that promises "Northwest will provide supervision from the time of
boarding until the child is met at the final destination. At no time will
your child be left alone," Local 6 News reported. 

The 11-year-old said she was fondled and molested in flight while flying
alone, according to the report.

"Well, it began with talking," the unidentified girl told Local 6 News. "And
then he began to be a little annoying. And then the touching." 

The airline sat a 29-year-old man to sit next to the girl and she said she
was too shocked to alert an attendant for help when the alleged molestation
occurred, Local 6 News reported.

"I started creeping toward the window and he got closer. He put his hand on
my knee," the girl said.

The girl's mother said the airline never checked on her and is suing
Northwest in civil court.

Attorney Geoffrey Fieger is representing the family in the civil trial.

"The (flight) program itself is really an illusion," Fieger said. "They
charge money for nothing and they intend to do nothing more than seat a
child."

A Local 6 hidden camera found, when asked specifically, Northwest admitted
attendants on flights are not necessarily watching your kids, according to
the report.

Local 6 question: "What about in flight? Is there any supervision in
flight?"
Northwest: "Not really."

The report also featured Cheryl West, who recently went to pick up her
granddaughter from Orlando International Airport and was stunned to find the
5-year-old walking alone. 

"Anybody could have taken her and the airlines would have never known," West
said. "My granddaughter may have been abducted, molested, raped, killed. And
the panic just set in. I was furious. I was just beside myself."

Local 6 News reported that no one escorted West's granddaughter off the
plane but she was reunited with her family without any problems.

It took Northwest 20 minutes to notice West's granddaughter was gone, Local
6 News reported.

"When I got to baggage they said, 'Kaya Karp, please return to gate 37,'"
West said. "How is a 5-year-old girl wandering around the airport looking
for her grandmother supposed to know where gate 37 is? Anybody could have
taken her and the airlines would have never known." 

Northwest Airlines would not respond except to say it has safely transported
more than 150,000 children since 2004. 

The airline refunded West half her granddaughter's plane fare, plus the $40
she paid to have her safely escorted to Orlando.


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