Nationwide — The parents of Josiah Johnson, an 11-year-old African American boy with autism, say he left their home without permission and booked an Uber to JFK Airport alone. He was later located safely, but the incident raised concerns about how rideshare services handle underage riders.
Ring camera footage from the family’s Valley Stream home on Long Island shows Josiah stepping out early on June 28 with luggage in hand. He approaches an SUV waiting outside and asks, “Hi. Are you the Uber?” before getting in, and the driver then takes him toward JFK Airport.
At the airport, staff later noticed the child walking through the terminal without an adult. They alerted the Port Authority Police Department, who brought him to a command post. Emergency responders checked him and confirmed he was okay before authorities contacted his parents.
Josiah’s father, Jamel Johnson, said the family woke up that morning and immediately realized their son was missing. After checking their home security system, they saw him leaving with his bags and getting into the Uber.
According to People, he said they were “literally in frantic mode” as they searched for answers. Jamel also noticed his phone was missing, so he called it from his wife’s device, which connected him to police. Officers confirmed Josiah had been dropped off at the airport and had already entered a TSA screening line.
In a later interview, Josiah said he intended to travel to Japan, specifically the city of Fukuyama. He added that he planned the trip on his own despite being only 11 years old.
Uber said it was concerned about the incident and confirmed it had been in contact with the family. The company requires riders to be at least 18 or accompanied by an adult, and drivers are instructed to cancel rides involving unaccompanied minors. Josiah’s parents questioned how the trip was completed despite those rules.
“He looks like a child,” said Josiah’s mother, Tenesha Johnson. “Why would you let him get in your car and pull off?”