For most people, flying is a nice experience linked with exciting vacations but not everybody sees it that way.

Sheila Frederick, 49, spent more than 15 years working as an Alaska Airlines flight attendant. She is used to complicated situations with passengers. Still, she never expected to see anything life-changing. But on the flight from Seattle to San Francisco, she did.

During the flight, she noticed something particularly odd – a blonde girl in shabby clothes sitting next to an elderly man in nice clothes. While Shelia was passing them, she noticed the look the girl gave her. She felt the girl’s look pierce her deep giving her a sense of urgency.

“I had a pretty odd impression of this girl. I sensed that there was a problem. The fact that the girl was so badly dressed in comparison to the male was the first indication.” Too much of a difference, Sheila thought to herself.

Shelia stood up and resolved to face them both. The man acted defensively while the girl remained silent.

“At first, I sensed that something was off. He was much more mature than the girl sitting next to him, and he reacted violently to any movement around him. I’m happy I was able to intervene quickly and save a life.”