By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
Eleven-year-old Josiah Johnson, who has autism, was safely reunited with his family after taking an Uber alone to John F. Kennedy International Airport, where authorities found him in a TSA screening line before he could attempt to travel to Japan. He is pictured in the arms of his mother, Tenesha Johnson.
An 11-year-old boy with autism is safe after leaving his New York home alone, taking an Uber to John F. Kennedy International Airport and making it all the way to a TSA screening line before authorities intervened.
The incident happened June 28 when Josiah Johnson, of Valley Stream, New York, quietly left his family’s home with luggage in hand. Home security footage showed the child asking, “Are you the Uber?” before getting into a waiting rideshare vehicle headed to JFK Airport.
Josiah’s parents discovered he was missing after waking up that morning and immediately began searching for him. His father, Jamel Johnson, said the family was “literally in frantic mode” after realizing both their son and his cellphone were gone.
After calling the missing phone, Jamel was connected with law enforcement, who informed him that Port Authority Police had located Josiah inside the airport. Airport personnel became concerned after noticing the child traveling alone and alerted authorities before he could board a flight.
According to his family, Josiah later explained that he planned to travel to Fukuyama, Japan, a trip he had organized on his own.
The incident has raised new questions about rideshare safety policies involving minors. Uber requires passengers to be at least 18 years old unless accompanied by an adult, and drivers are instructed not to transport unaccompanied children.
“He looks like a child,” said Josiah’s mother, Tenesha Johnson. “Why would you let him get in your car and pull off?”
Uber said it is reviewing the incident and has been in contact with the family. The Johnsons hope their experience encourages parents to review safety plans with children and prompts rideshare companies to strengthen safeguards designed to protect young passengers.