Trigger Warning: Sexual assault
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If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, you can contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.
A woman claims she was sexually assaulted by a stranger during an American Airlines flight when he climbed on top of her while in flight. The New Jersey woman alleges in a new lawsuit that the carrier is responsible for not preventing the attack.
The alarming incident reportedly occurred during a nighttime flight from Charlotte, NC, to Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey on August 26, 2022, according to documents submitted to federal court last week, per the New York Post.
After the plane took to the air, the woman decided to take a nap. Later in the flight, she “awoke to find the Perpetrator’s left arm inside her pants and his right hand forcing her hand onto his penis,” the lawsuit details.
The woman was seated between a friend and an unidentified male passenger during the two-hour flight, according to the lawsuit.
The man draped his black puffer jacket over himself and the victim. He then proceeded to “digitally penetrate her” while she was asleep. When she woke up, she found herself in a state of shock and panic, according to the reports.
The Lawsuit Details the Alarming Alleged Assault on an American Airlines Flight
The attack escalated. The man forced himself on top of her and “[attempted] to penetrate her with his penis, which he was partially able to do,” the lawsuit says.
“Plaintiff gathered the courage to push Perpetrator away, at which point he quickly returned to his seat,” the lawsuit alleges.
According to the lawsuit, the attacker attempted to downplay the incident by offering the victim water. Meanwhile, he held her hand forcefully. The victim later alerted her friend, and they reported the assault to a flight attendant. Staff moved the victim to a different seat for the remainder of the flight.
Upon landing, the man was “escorted off the plane.” Authorities collected statements from the victim and other witnesses regarding the incident, according to the lawsuit. However, it remains unclear whether the perpetrator was taken into custody or ever charged with the sexual assault of the plaintiff, according to the suit.
The lawsuit alleges the airline industry is aware of rising in-flight sexual assaults. It cites FBI data with 96 cases from last year. It claims the woman involved did not contribute to the assault. They insist American Airlines had a duty to ensure her safety during the flight.
The lawsuit continues: “American Airlines breached its duty of care by failing to properly monitor the cabin, failing to prevent the sexual assault, and failing to promptly intervene when the assault occurred.”
Meanwhile, the alleged perpetrator is not named as a defendant in the lawsuit.