Pilot Travels Over 5,000 Miles To Return Missing Doll To 9-Year-Old Owner

Sep 12, 2023

Many will agree that losing a precious item, no matter the price, can be devastating. It feels even more heartbreaking when the chances of getting back the lost item are slim or nonexistent. However, the profound feeling of relief can be termed unmatched when the missing item suddenly turns up in the most unexpected manner. Little Valentina Dominguez from Plano, Texas, will not forget the act of kindness she experienced and the relief she felt when her beloved doll was found after weeks of searching. 

There have been a lot of lovely stories of people going out of their way to help children, but nothing much beats a pilot flying over 5,000 miles from Tokyo to Texas to return a lost doll to her owner, Valentina. The US pilot and Valentina’s story made it to the news in August 2023, reminding millions that chivalry is still alive. 

Valentina and her parents, Rudy and Celeste Dominguez, had taken a trip to Bali and had been on their way back when they accidentally left her American Girl doll in Tokyo during a stopover.  

Valentina's father told WFAA that they searched their bags for the doll but couldn't find it. Fortunately, they remembered the Tokyo plane was the last place they saw the doll before going back to Texas. The Dominguez family desperately called the airlines and posted about the missing doll on Facebook. Rudy shared:

"Beatrice was a big part of our lives for the past three or four years. I am feeling sad because she is very sad."

The online post of the missing doll eventually got to pilot James "Jim" Danen, a first officer for American Airlines, who did not live far from the family in Plano. Danen has been flying with American Airlines since 1993 and used to fly to Tokyo regularly. Fortunately, he connected with Turkish Airlines' lost and found section at the Haneda Airport in Tokyo and found the doll after a second try. 

Beatrice, who was last seen by her young owner, Valentina, on July 20, 2023, was finally reunited with her on Aug. 21, 2023, after a month of separation. Danen flew 5,880 miles from Tokyo to Texas to Dominguez's family home in Plano. He told WFAA:

''It's my nature. I like helping people ... that's just what I like doing. I was really glad I could do something nice for somebody."

Valentina also shared how she felt about her doll going missing. She described the feeling of not having her favorite doll. The youngster revealed to GMA:

"(Beatrice) means a lot to me. She brings me happiness and she’s my best friend. When she was missing, when we got settled into our hotel, I felt very bad. I felt like my heart was broken.”

After Valentina was reunited with Beatrice, she thanked Danen and gave him a big hug. Valentina shared that on seeing Beatrice, she "felt over the moon." Danen also took pictures with Beatrice in various airports and on flights on their way to Texas and handed Valentina a map of where Beatrice had been. 

Rudy, who was equally excited, complimented Danen's kindness, and shared, "I think it's another sign of there's a lot of kindness in this world." The family was incredibly grateful, and Valentina was overjoyed to see her "best friend" again. 

Isn't it amazing to see that the pilot displayed an exemplary act of kindness against the odds of distance? Have you ever shown or received an unforgettable act of kindness? Let us know, and be sure to pass this on to others.