Flight Attendant Catches Falling Baby–Then Gives Exhausted Mom A Break

NEWARK, NJ — A flight attendant recently sprang into action and caught a baby as the child was about to fall from her exhausted mother's lap – earning praise from passengers, her employers and social media users alike.

A heartwarming photo of Monique Harris holding the infant was shared to the internet by John Frehse, a seasoned traveler who was flying from Newark Airport in New Jersey to Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Michigan.

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The post has seen nearly 200,000 reactions and been shared nearly 2,000 times since last week's flight.

According to Frehse, a new – and exhausted – mother fell asleep and her baby was about to fall out of her lap. But Harris leaped into action and caught the child.

As if that wasn't enough, Harris told the mother to go back to sleep while she held the infant and gave her a break.

"All is not lost in the turbulent time," Frehse wrote, praising the flight attendant as an "A+ employee" and calling for her employers to "take note."

Republic Airways, which operates regional flights for United Airlines, commented on the post: "Such a great story! We are proud to have Monique on our team." United Airlines also commented with a teary-eyed emoji.

Several people have been calling for Harris to get a bonus or a raise as a reward for her service. Other social media commenters have been recalling their own positive stories involving flight attendants and babies:

• "Flight attendants are the best. I flew all the time alone with my baby and every time the flight attendants would offer to hold him or keep an eye on him while I used the bathroom, never even had to ask!"
• "I was on a Delta flight and a flight attendant walked my baby up and down the aisle for over an hour so that I could sleep for just a few before the next leg (eight-hour flight). It was years ago. I still think about her and how much what she did meant to me."
• "My first flight with my autistic toddler was one of the most stressful and overwhelming experiences to me especially because I was all alone. I remember holding my pee for so long because I was afraid how he'd act being in a cramped bathroom with me. One of the flight attendants saw me struggling and she took him, kept him calm and entertained. He was so comfortable with her. I was able to use the bathroom. For the rest of the flight she kept checking on him and I."

Meanwhile, Harris has been humble and appreciative of the well-wishes.

"I never do anything for recognition," she wrote. "I had no idea that being my normal natural self would grow into such a priceless moment."

• Related: 'Hero' Teacher In New Jersey Rescues Choking Student [VIDEO]
• Related: 'It Broke My Heart': Pilot Apologizes For Leaving 3 Passengers Behind In NJ

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