A father traveling with his 13-year-old daughter was wrongly suspected of human trafficking

Francisco De Jesus was flying with his 13-year-old daughter from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to Charlotte, North Carolina earlier this month on an American Airlines flight. While he was using the plane's restroom, he said flight attendants gave his daughter wings and asked if she was OK, where she was going, and who she was going to meet.

After the flight landed in Charlotte, De Jesus told reporters that airline personnel, including the airport's head of security, met them after they deplaned. He said he was told that flight attendants, who were trained to look for the signs of human trafficking, suggested to security the young girl travelling with him might be in trouble: "At that point, my heart just sank he said."

However, De Jesus said the airport security staff "saw the situation for what it was immediately" after answering a few questions and was allowed on his way.

De Jesus told reporters that he contacted American Airlines for an explanation but didn't receive a response.

"My question that I would like to have answered is "how did they get to label me as a human trafficker? I had my iPad; we were watching a movie. She had her phone. I mean, these are things that I thought a dad and a daughter traveling do," De Jesus said.

An American Airlines representative told the outlet: "Our frontline team members are trained to navigate a variety of safety issues, including recognising the potential signs of human trafficking. 

We strive to create a positive, welcoming environment for everyone who travels with us and apologise for any misunderstanding that may have occurred."

The airline still has not contacted De Jesus for an explanation, or reporters for comment.