For travelers, missing a flight is frustrating. Losing a passport before an international trip? Devastating.

That was the reality for Sanae Bingham, who arrived at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) around 2 a.m. on January 7. In a message to Houston Airports sent through the airport system's online feedback portal, Bingham shared how she was exhausted after a nine-hour flight delay from Orange County, California. In her fatigue, she accidentally left her crossbody bag—with her passport inside—next to her seat.

Bingham’s next flight--to Santiago, Chile--was set to depart around 8:30 p.m.

Around 12 p.m., she realized she had lost her bag. What followed were hours of panic, searching and dead ends.

“My husband and I frantically searched all over the airport—our airline's Lost and Found three times, baggage claim Lost & Found twice, even asking the gate attendant to check the airplane we were on when it arrived again in Houston—to no avail," Bingham wrote.

By 5 p.m.—just three hours before their flight to Santiago, Chile—she was out of options.

A last-ditch effort

Then, she remembered something: her AirPods were inside the missing bag.

Using the Find My iPhone app, she and her husband began tracking the bag’s last known location. An airline gate agent, airport employees and a few good samaritans tried to help, but as time ran out, they gave up one by one.

"So as the last straw, we thought of asking the airport police for help," Bingham wrote.

That’s when they met Officer Salim Howze of the Houston Police Department, stationed at IAH.

"He walked with my iPhone in hand to detect the signal from AirPods. He was able to search in areas we wouldn’t easily access," she said.

With boarding time approaching, Officer Howze followed the signal—through secure areas, down to baggage claim and beyond.

"By the time he found my passport, it was about 15 minutes before boarding time, and I was physically shaking, filled with sorrow and disappointment in myself," Bingham recalled.

Then, she looked up.

"When he rode up the escalator, he magically had my bag in his hand!!! I couldn’t believe it, and I started bawling," she wrote. "He told us it was at the baggage claim Lost & Found (apparently, not the one I visited twice earlier)."

With no time to waste, she and her husband thanked Officer Howze and ran to their gate—making their flight with minutes to spare.

A trip nearly lost, a memory never forgotten

Had the bag remained lost, Sanae Bingham's dream trip would have ended in Houston. Instead, thanks to Officer Howze’s persistence, she and her husband made it to Santiago as scheduled and traveled on to Antarctica and throughout South America—a journey years in the making. 

"Thanks to him finding my bag, we traveled there from Santiago as scheduled and thoroughly enjoyed the experience down under," she wrote.

Weeks later, near the end of their travels, Bingham found time to send a message:

"Thank you, Officer Howze, for going above and beyond to locate my passport. You could easily have left us with our airline, which would have ended our trip to Antarctica. We will never forget your kindness."

Recognition from Houston Airports and HPD

The story of Officer Howze’s quick thinking spread through Houston Airports and the Houston Police Department.

"Officer Howze’s actions exemplify the highest level of dedication and care, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to assisting passengers in moments of distress," wrote Josh Samic with Houston Airports in a message to HPD leadership. "His willingness to go beyond expectations made a lasting difference in this traveler’s journey, turning what could have been a devastating situation into a moment of relief and gratitude."

Andrew Czobor, Assistant Director of IAH Terminal Management for Houston Airports, echoed the praise. "This is what Guest Experience is all about: unifying all our aviation community to work together!"

HPD leadership ensured Officer Howze’s commendation was added to his personnel file.

"We are very proud of him, and we truly are the lucky ones!" wrote Houston Police Lt. Bridget Lummus.

For Sanae Bingham, this was more than a recovered passport. It was the difference between a lost opportunity and an unforgettable adventure—one made possible by a Houston Police officer who refused to give up.

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