Frederick, when asked for an update on the teen’s story, explained that she has been in touch with her a number of times.

“I put my phone number on the note that I left for her and I guess she memorised it, so a few weeks later, she called me,” she said, adding that the teen is now attending college.

This story has a happy ending. However it is estimated that more than 50,000 women and girls are trafficked into the United States for prostitution each year, reports The Washington Post.

Last year, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested 2,000 human traffickers and identified 400 victims – but many more are believed to have fallen through the cracks.

As a result, flight attendants are now being trained to spot for signs of human trafficking as part of their instruction.

Image via WTSP / iStock.

Heroic flight attendant rescues teenage girl from human trafficker