Jazmin Li
Airports are often associated with vacations and business trips, but they are also sites of abduction and human trafficking. In 2018, a 12-year-old girl, JinJing Ma, was believed to have been abducted from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. In another instance, a 50-year-old man was arrested in Moncton in connection with the abduction of a woman from the Halifax Airport parkade. Abduction survivor Alicia Kozak Kozakiewicz, who was abducted at 13, now works with Airline Ambassadors International to train and educate airport and airline staff about human trafficking, empowering them to recognize and report suspicious behavior.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Human trafficking at airports | Common |
| Human trafficking defined | The United Nations defines human trafficking as the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring, or receipt of persons by improper means (such as force, abduction, fraud, or coercion) for an improper purpose including forced labor or sexual exploitation |
| Human trafficking journeys through official border control points | Nearly 80% |
| Human trafficking prevention | Airport, airline, ground handling, security screening, and customs staff can be trained to recognize behaviors consistent with trafficking situations and report their observations to the authorities |
| AMBER Alert | Airport security screeners will get notices and photos of abducted children as part of the AMBER Alert network's quest to find missing people |
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What You'll Learn
Human trafficking at airports
Human trafficking is a heinous criminal industry that involves the recruitment, transportation, transfer, receipt, and exploitation of persons through force, abduction, fraud, or coercion. It is the second-largest criminal industry in the world, and it affects nearly 50 million people, with 27.6 million in forced labor and 22 million in forced marriage. Airports are significant hubs for human trafficking, with nearly 80% of international human trafficking journeys crossing through official border control points, including airports.
The fight against human trafficking requires a collaborative effort involving governments, civil aviation authorities, airlines, and airports. Airports and the aviation industry have a crucial role in combating this crime by reporting suspected cases and making it challenging to exploit the global air transport network. San Francisco International Airport (SFO), for instance, has taken a leading role by implementing specialized training programs for its staff to identify and respond to human trafficking effectively. Other airports have also increased employee training, launched awareness campaigns, and adopted new technologies, such as e-alerts and facial recognition software, to combat human trafficking.
Training and education play a vital role in equipping aviation workers and travelers with the knowledge to recognize and report suspicious behavior. Alicia "Kozak" Kozakiewicz, an abduction survivor and human trafficking awareness trainer, emphasizes the importance of seeing something and reporting it to prevent someone from becoming a victim of modern slavery. Kozakiewicz collaborates with organizations like Airline Ambassadors International to educate airport and airline staff about human trafficking.
To facilitate reporting, organizations like IATA urge law enforcement agencies to provide clear and anonymous mechanisms for airline staff to report potential trafficking situations. Additionally, the Blue Lightning Initiative, developed by Customs and Border Protection, the Department of Transportation, and the Department of Homeland Security, aims to raise awareness and train airline personnel to identify potential traffickers and victims.
By raising awareness, providing training, and establishing effective reporting mechanisms, airports and the aviation industry are taking significant steps to combat human trafficking and protect vulnerable individuals from becoming victims of this horrific crime.
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Child abduction at airports
Airports are hubs for human trafficking, where adults or children are transported for forced labor or commercial sexual exploitation. In 2018, a 12-year-old Chinese girl, JinJing Ma, was abducted from Reagan National Airport. She was later found safe with her parents in Queens, New York. In another instance, a couple fought off a woman, later identified as 26-year-old Esther Daniels, who tried to kidnap their child at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
While there are no precise figures on human trafficking, data from IOM-assisted cases over the last decade reveals that nearly 80% of international human trafficking journeys pass through official border control points, including airports. To combat this, organizations like the IATA are working with airports and other stakeholders in the air transport sector to raise awareness, provide guidance, and develop counter-trafficking strategies. The US has also established programs to prevent the departure of a child from the country when presented with a valid court order prohibiting removal.
Training and education are crucial in preventing child abductions at airports. Airline Ambassadors International (AAI), an aviation humanitarian group, has conducted over 100 airport training sessions worldwide since 2011. These sessions aim to educate airport and airline staff about the potential signs of human trafficking and outline how to report it. The focus is on making staff aware of the issue, recognizing suspicious behaviors, and sharing real-life stories of survivors to emphasize the importance of their role in preventing abductions.
Additionally, Alicia "Kozak" Kozakiewicz, a human trafficking awareness trainer and abduction survivor, emphasizes the role of travelers in preventing child abductions at airports. Kozakiewicz was abducted at 13 and later founded The Alicia Project, an advocacy group promoting internet and child safety awareness. She works with AAI to train aviation staff and travelers, encouraging them to be vigilant and report suspicious behavior. By sharing her story, Kozakiewicz empowers others to recognize the signs of human trafficking and take action to prevent abductions, ultimately saving lives.
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Abduction survivors and their work
Abduction is a traumatic experience, and survivors often suffer from mental health issues, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Many survivors find it challenging to adjust to normal life and may struggle with trust issues, anxiety, and depression. However, some survivors have demonstrated remarkable resilience, turning their painful experiences into opportunities to help others. Here are the stories of some courageous abduction survivors and the work they are doing to heal and help others:
Elizabeth Smart
Elizabeth Smart was abducted at knifepoint from her bedroom in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 2002, at the age of 14. Her captors, Brian David Mitchell and his wife, Wanda Barzee, held her captive for nine months, during which she was subjected to sexual abuse and forced marches at knifepoint. After her rescue, Smart reclaimed her life and became an inspirational speaker, author, and advocate. She founded the Elizabeth Smart Foundation, which works to prevent crimes against children, and has also written a book about her experience.
Jaycee Dugard
Jaycee Dugard was just 11 years old when she was abducted by Phillip and Nancy Garrido in 1991. She was held captive for 18 years, during which she was physically and mentally abused and gave birth to two daughters fathered by her abductor. After her rescue, Dugard has worked to raise awareness about abduction and has participated in media interviews to share her story. She has also written a book, "A Stolen Life," detailing her experience.
Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus, and Michelle Knight
These three women were held captive for nearly a decade by Ariel Castro in his Cleveland home. They were repeatedly raped, tortured, and chained inside the house. After their escape in 2013, they have worked together to help other survivors. Berry has co-written a memoir, "Hope: A Memoir of Survival in Cleveland", and continues to work with Fox8's "Missing" segment to raise awareness about missing people. DeJesus also works with the Missing Center, bringing hope and inspiration to others. Knight has maintained a lower profile but has reportedly found solace in writing and art.
Shawn Hornbeck
Shawn Hornbeck was abducted at the age of 11 while riding his bike in a St. Louis suburb. He was held captive by Michael Devlin for over four years, during which he endured physical and mental abuse. After his rescue, Hornbeck has worked to raise awareness about abduction and has participated in campaigns to educate parents and children about safety. He has also become an advocate for other abduction survivors, offering support and guidance.
Pierrette (DRC Survivor)
Pierrette, whose last name has been withheld, was abducted by armed men dressed as civilians in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). She was held captive for two months, during which she witnessed killings and endured physical abuse. After her escape, Pierrette received medical treatment and psychological support. She has chosen to remain private about her experiences but is likely receiving ongoing care and support to heal from her traumatic ordeal.
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Amber alerts at airports
Airports are hubs for human trafficking, where adults or children are transported for forced labour or sexual exploitation. In an effort to combat this, Amber Alerts are now being sent to airports. These alerts are abduction notices sent to authorities and media outlets, asking for help in finding a missing child. The goal is to prevent abductors from taking children on planes.
Amber Alerts are issued in the most serious child abduction cases, when authorities believe a child is in danger of being seriously hurt or killed. They are distributed by broadcasters and transportation agencies, as well as to NCMEC, which then redistributes them to secondary distributors, including internet service providers, digital billboards, and truckers. The alerts are also sent to mobile phones through the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) program.
When an Amber Alert is issued, law enforcement provides the geographic area where the alert should be issued, along with any available information about the child, abductor, and suspected vehicle used in the abduction. This information is then shared with TSA officers, airport and airline officials, and airport screeners, who see thousands of passengers every day and are in a position to recognise suspicious behaviour.
The Amber Alert system was established in 1996 after 9-year-old Amber Hagerman was kidnapped and murdered. As of December 31, 2024, 1,268 children have been recovered due to Amber Alerts, with at least 226 of those recoveries attributed to the WEA program.
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The role of aviation workers
Airports are hubs for human trafficking, with traffickers using both commercial and private flights to transport their victims. Aviation workers, from flight attendants to pilots and airport staff, are in a unique position to spot and report suspicious behaviour and prevent human trafficking.
Abduction survivor Alicia "Kozak" Kozakiewicz, who works with the aviation humanitarian group Airline Ambassadors International, is one of the people helping to train and educate aviation workers about human trafficking. Kozakiewicz, who was abducted at 13, wants to ensure that aviation workers and travellers are aware of the issue and can recognise and report suspicious behaviour. Airline Ambassadors International is a US-based organisation founded by former flight attendant Nancy Rivard in 1996 as a humanitarian charity.
The US government has also been instrumental in training members of the aviation industry to spot potential trafficking situations. The Federal Government's Blue Lightning Initiative (BLI), for example, is a national public awareness campaign to combat human trafficking that has expanded to include airports, private aviation companies, university aviation departments, and foreign airlines.
In addition to these initiatives, airports have participated in local task forces, implemented public awareness campaigns, and partnered with local survivor leaders and victim-serving non-governmental organisations.
While the responsibility for identifying, apprehending, and prosecuting human traffickers rests with governments and national law enforcement agencies, the aviation industry recognises the important role that customer-facing staff can play in preventing this crime.
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Frequently asked questions
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has implemented a system where its 43,000 airport security screeners will receive notices and photos of abducted children as part of the AMBER Alert network. This will help security overall by encouraging screeners to inspect passengers more closely.
Yes, there have been cases of abductions at airports. For example, JinJing Ma, a 12-year-old girl from China, was reported abducted from Reagan National Airport but was later found safe with her parents in New York. Alicia "Koz" Kozakiewicz, a human trafficking awareness trainer, was abducted from her home and driven across state lines but was rescued by the FBI.
Data from IOM-assisted cases over the last ten years show that nearly 80% of international human trafficking journeys cross through official border control points, including airports. The United Nations defines human trafficking as the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring, or receipt of persons by improper means for an improper purpose, including forced labor or sexual exploitation.
Organizations like IATA are working with airports and other stakeholders in the air transport sector to raise awareness about human trafficking and share guidance material. Aviation groups like Airline Ambassadors International are also working to train and educate airport and airline staff to recognize and report suspicious behavior related to human trafficking.
