I guess you're not a parent, or you don't have much experience flying. Something might have happened to detain my sister in-law, or the plane might have been force to divert to an alternate. To be sure the airline would have helped her in either case, but you need to know that the kid has the sense to do what is right amidst unforeseen circumstances.
In my own case, I took a bus tour of Chicago which picked me up at my hotel (The Drake) when I was 11 years old. I had arrived with my father, who was there on business, only the day before. I had never been to Chicago before this. Well, the tour bus didn't go back to The Drake. The end of the line was the Statler. I think. (It was near the Prudential Building, reasonably far from The Drake.) I figured out what to do (in 1961, before cell phones).
ML/NJ
So what's your experience with sending your child out onto the ocean alone for 8 months?
Do yourself a favor and read the comments on a forum dedicated to sailing by sailors with ocean experience...You just might find that you are totally ignorant about the dangers the wacko parents subjected their daughter to. And you also might find some interesting info on the weirdo dad that has conveniently been ignored by the MSM.....