A New Jersey woman has filed a lawsuit against American Airlines, alleging the airline failed to prevent or stop a sexual assault committed against her by a stranger seated next to her during a flight. IndependentThe incident occurred during a night flight from Charlotte, North Carolina to Newark Liberty International Airport on August 26, 2022. The woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, claims that American Airlines is responsible for not ensuring her safety and well-being on the plane.
According to the lawsuit, the woman fell asleep shortly after the flight took off, but suddenly became aware of something horrifying. She discovered that the stranger’s hand was inside his pants and his hand was pressing on his penis. The man covered them both with his black puffer jacket, and while she was asleep, he “digitally penetrated” her. The woman was stunned in shock and panic when she woke up.
According to the lawsuit, the stranger then climbed on top of her and “attempted to penetrate her with his penis, which he partially succeeded in doing.” The woman mustered up strength to push him away and he immediately returned to his seat, ending the attack.
Later, the attacker tried to downplay the attack by holding the victim’s hand while forcibly giving her water, but only stopped when he saw a flight attendant approaching. The victim then woke up her friend and reported the incident to the flight attendant, who moved her to another seat for the rest of the flight.
Upon landing, the offender was removed from the plane and officers collected statements from the victim and witnesses. But the suit claims that “it is unknown whether the offender was taken into custody and/or whether he was ever charged with sexually assaulting Plaintiff.”
“We look forward to seeking justice on our client’s behalf to remedy this terrible injustice she has suffered, as alleged in the complaint,” the woman’s attorney, Brian Andries, said. The Independent.
In an email, an American Airlines spokesperson said, “We are reviewing the lawsuit and the details of the flight. The safety and comfort of our customers is American’s top priority.”
The lawsuit alleges that the airline industry is aware of the rising incidence of in-flight sexual assault, with the FBI reporting 96 related cases last year alone. The lawsuit also emphasizes that the victim bears no responsibility for the assault and that American Airlines has a clear duty to ensure her safety during the flight.
“American Airlines breached its duty of care by failing to adequately monitor the cabin, failing to prevent the sexual harassment, and failing to promptly intervene when the harassment occurred,” the lawsuit claims.
