By Jared Miller, CEO and Co-Founder
Across the country, volunteer pilots are quietly stepping up to make a life-changing difference in the fight against human trafficking. Freedom Aviation Network (FAN) exists to coordinate safe, efficient, and rapid air transportation for survivors and their advocates — and none of it would be possible without the aviation community. Survivors of trafficking often lack access to the most basic resources. Many do not have identification — it is often confiscated or destroyed by traffickers as a form of control — and cannot board commercial flights or buses. Even when they do find shelter and services, those programs may be hundreds of miles away. That is where FAN volunteer pilots come in.
These pilots donate their time, aircraft, and fuel to help survivors reach housing, trauma-informed therapy, and job training — critical resources for rebuilding their lives. In some cases, they provide urgent flights to remove someone from immediate danger. One survivor, a young woman who had been severely abused and coerced into exploitation, reached out for help through a social worker. Within six hours, FAN had coordinated a volunteer pilot. After landing safely, the woman told us, “When I got into the clouds, I knew he couldn’t touch me anymore.” That flight represented far more than miles — it was a turning point in her journey to freedom.
Volunteer pilots also help survivors reconnect with loved ones. On one occasion, FAN arranged a flight for a woman to make a short weekend visit to her family. She later told us that if it weren’t for that flight, she would never have seen her father again — he passed away just two weeks later. These quiet moments of healing are as important as the escape itself. Still others fly individuals to new lives — fresh starts after completing intensive recovery programs. These flights aren’t the end of a story; they’re the beginning of a new one. FAN’s motto is “For the One.” Every flight matters. Every person matters. And while the impact begins with one life, it ripples outward — touching families, communities, and future generations.
To the pilots who have answered this call: thank you. Your willingness to fly has helped restore dignity, safety, and hope. To pilots who are ready to take the next step, FAN is ready to welcome you onboard! To learn more or get involved, see FreedomAviationNetwork.org.
FAN is honored to serve alongside the aviation community in this deeply meaningful work.