Flight Attendant Snags Falling Baby, Goes Viral

A snoozing mom, a falling baby, and a lightning-fast flight attendant turned a routine flight into a viral moment. Business traveler John Frehse says he was on a Sept. 2 United flight operated by Republic Airways from Newark, New Jersey, to Michigan's Grand Rapids when he saw flight attendant Monique Harris leap up to catch a baby rolling off its sleeping mother's lap, per USA Today. Harris then reportedly told the startled mom, "Don't worry, go back to sleep. I got you." Frehse snapped a photo of Harris tending to the baby and shared it on Instagram, where it had drawn more than 210,000 likes as of Thursday afternoon, as well as praise for Harris' calm assist.

Republic Airways called Harris "an extraordinary colleague and flight attendant." 13 On Your Side reports that Harris is also known for leaving kind handwritten notes for passengers on occasion. Frehse, who later connected with Harris after her daughter saw his photo come down her Facebook feed, says they now talk daily and that she remains modest about the attention. "She's so humble," he notes. Harris herself commented on Frehse's Instagram post: "I appreciate all of the love and acknowledgments to God be all the Glory!!! God is my witness I never do anything for recognition I had no idea that being my normal natural self would grow into such a priceless moment!!!"