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When most folks go through airports, they're trying to make their flights, not miss a connection, or get to baggage claim to reclaim their luggage. It's a fact that many people aren't thinking about human trafficking or perpetrators who may also be in the airport to transport their victims from point a to point b....or to pay a human trafficker to abuse someone. Unfortunately, air travel is a method that human traffickers regularly use to execute their crimes. This makes it all the more imperative for not just travelers, but also airport/airline workers to be on guard and know what to look out for. Thankfully, Delta Airlines has made a commitment to support the fight against human trafficking.

A closer look at Delta's commitment to fighting human trafficking

Last month was National Human Trafficking Awareness/Prevention Month. Via its news hub, Delta revealed that throughout January, it used its partnership with Polaris to inform its customers about human trafficking and how to stop it. Furthermore, Delta worked with various government officials at city, state, and federal levels to discuss how the airline industry can help combat trafficking. The Deputy General Counsel and Chief Litigation Counsel, Meg Taylor, also shared some critical insight. According to Taylor, most passengers who travel throughout the Atlanta airport are also flying with Delta. Therefore, this posits an opportunity for the airline to continuously inform travelers about human trafficking, its warning signs, and what to do if they suspect someone is a perpetrator or victim of this crime. Since 2012, over 60,000 Delta Airlines workers have finished training to help them recognize and report human trafficking.

Warning signs to look for in airports and/or when traveling in general

Unfortunately, spotting human trafficking is often easier said than done. Nevertheless, some warning signs to be watchful of and potentially report (especially if you see more than one) are as follows:

• Potential victim seems scared, lost, or confused
• Potential trafficker only wants to make purchases in cash
• Potential victim is without bags, appropriate attire
• Potential victim seems nervous about the person they're traveling with
• Potential trafficker lacks return ticket/has tickets for multiple destinations
• Potential trafficker/victim struggles with making eye contact

Anyone who wishes to report what they believe to be human trafficking can contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline via phone at 1 (888) 373-7888 or by text at 233733.