unilad homepage
unilad homepage
    • News
      • UK News
      • US News
      • World News
      • Crime
      • Health
      • Money
      • Sport
      • Travel
    • Music
    • Technology
    • Film and TV
      • News
      • DC Comics
      • Disney
      • Marvel
      • Netflix
    • Celebrity
    • Politics
    • Advertise
    • Terms
    • Privacy & Cookies
    • LADbible Group
    • LADbible
    • SPORTbible
    • GAMINGbible
    • Tyla
    • UNILAD Tech
    • FOODbible
    • License Our Content
    • About Us & Contact
    • Jobs
    • Latest
    • Archive
    • Topics A-Z
    • Authors
    Facebook
    Instagram
    X
    Threads
    TikTok
    YouTube
    Submit Your Content
    Pilot flies 9-year-old’s missing doll 5,880 miles after tracking it down

    Home> Community

    Updated 16:08 27 Aug 2023 GMT+1Published 16:07 27 Aug 2023 GMT+1

    Pilot flies 9-year-old’s missing doll 5,880 miles after tracking it down

    Beatrice the doll was reunited with Valentina in Texas after she left her favourite toy in Tokyo.

    Callum Jones

    Callum Jones

    google discoverFollow us on Google Discover
    Featured Image Credit: YouTube/WFAA

    Topics: Travel, US News

    Callum Jones
    Callum Jones

    Advert

    Advert

    Advert

    It is certainly not uncommon to have that one favourite toy as a child, something that seemed to go around with us everywhere we went.

    A trip to the shops, walk to the park, or a trip to the grandparents - yep, said toy was of course by our side.

    So when that particular toy gets lost when you are out and about, it can make for a rather devastating lost.

    Advert

    That is exactly what happened to nine-year-old Valentina Dominguez, who lost her American Girl doll named Beatrice on a plane in Tokyo after returning home from a vacation in Bali.

    The family had a stopover in the Japanese capital before traveling back to their home in Plano, Texas.

    Beatrice was last seen on 20 July, with Valentina's family searching everywhere for lost doll with brown hair.

    After searching their home from top to bottom, and also looking through their travel luggage, Beatrice was nowhere to be seen.

    The nine-year old was gutted to lose her doll.
    YouTube/WFAA

    "We checked our bags to see if maybe she was in there but we all remembered seeing her on the plane so once we did the search, didn't find her, we called the airline and then we sent an email to the airline looking for her," Rudy Dominguez, Valentina's father told Good Morning America.

    But the family were not giving up hope of finding the doll, despite it seemingly being a near impossible task to find the toy at this point.

    They spread the word about Beatrice's disappearance on Facebook - a message that eventually reached James Danen, a first officer for American Airlines.

    Luckily, Danen is based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, not far from the family's home in Plano.

    Danen - who is a regular flyer in and out of Tokyo - jumped out at the opportunity of helping the nine-year-old in her bid to find the missing doll.

    "It's my nature. I like helping people ... that's just what I like doing," he told WFAA-TV.

    "I was really glad I could do something nice for somebody."

    The pilot reached out to Turkish Airlines' lost-and-found at Haneda Airport in Tokyo and was thankfully able to locate the doll.

    He took photos with Beatrice in various airports, sending pictures to Valentina as he carried her back home to Texas.

    In what is truly wholesome, Danen drove to the Dominguez family home in Plano earlier this week and personally delivered Beatrice to Valentina, along with some Japanese sweets and a map showing where Beatrice has been on her travels.

    The pilot personally delivered the doll back to the girl.
    YouTube/WFAA

    After being reunited with her doll, Valentina told WFAA-TV: "I felt over the moon. I knew Beatrice was gonna be mad at me but I was happy that I could see her again."

    Meanwhile, Rudy spoke to the outlet about Danen and his actions, he said: "I think it's another sign of there's a lot of kindness in this world.

    "I'm really happy that Jim was able to help us and thankful for him."

    Choose your content:

    6 days ago
    8 days ago
    17 days ago
    19 days ago
    • Facebook
      6 days ago

      Healthy woman explained why she chose to end her life by euthanasia

      Wendy Duffy died by suicide on Friday

      Community
    • EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP via Getty Images
      8 days ago

      Bizarre 'Scientology run' challenge explained as 'raid' trend sees teens storm church's buildings

      Users are divided on the trial, with some asking how they can 'sign up' to take part

      Community
    • ITV
      17 days ago

      Woman marrying convicted murderer on death row opens up about their relationship

      Tiana Krasniqi is set to wed James Broadnax, who was convicted of a double murder in 2009

      Community
    • Getty Stock
      19 days ago

      Hiring managers are sharing the worst interview experiences that make them reject people instantly

      Hiring the right person for the job can be extremely difficult, especially in a world of artificial intelligence and Zoom interviews

      Community
    • Horrifying details emerge after plane carrying 200 passengers flies with no pilot after first officer collapsed
    • Iran shoots down US fighter jet as one pilot rescued while the other remains missing
    • Woman who travels 5,000 miles for work explains why it's worth it
    • 18-year-old still missing 9 days later after going on solo hike near 'Dracula’s castle'