United Airlines Under Fire Following Mid-Air Incident
A woman from California is criticizing United Airlines for what she alleges is an inadequate response to an incident where a man next to her supposedly masturbated while watching adult content on his phone during a flight last month.
“I really didn’t know how to react,” she recounted. “I was paralyzed with fear. My entire body was shaking. Being in the window seat, I felt trapped. To leave, I’d have to climb over him since his seat was fully reclined,” she told New York Post on October 21.
She explained that she had chosen to fly first class on a red-eye from San Diego to Newark, hoping to recline her seat more comfortably for some rest.
Around 6 a.m. on September 3, she noticed unsettling movements under the man’s blanket, which she later identified as inappropriate behavior.
Eventually, she managed to get out and inform the flight crew about the incident. However, she stated that a flight attendant failed to check on her well-being or offer her another seat.
After a second attempt to reach the crew, she was finally moved to a different seat. Additionally, she mentioned that United Airlines didn’t notify law enforcement about the incident, preventing police from meeting her upon landing.
Interestingly, airlines are not mandated to report such cases of sexual misconduct during flights to law enforcement or federal agencies.
A spokesperson for United Airlines responded, stating, “We take this matter very seriously.” They also confirmed they were in contact with the woman and apologized for the incident, adding that they have suspended the other individual pending further investigation.
The Post reported that a supervisor reached out to the woman later, admitted the airline could have handled the situation better, and offered her a choice between $1,000 in travel credit or 50,000 air miles, which she accepted.
When she later followed up with customer service, she was advised to reach out to the FBI regarding the incident.
While the FBI did not confirm an investigation, they noted that such incidents on flights are not uncommon.
According to Assistant Special Agent in Charge Oscar Medina from the San Diego field office, “People often take advantage of those who are asleep on flights. It’s usually women or minors who are targeted.” He remarked that these occurrences tend to happen more frequently on longer night flights, although they can take place at any time.
He described a common pattern: the perpetrator is generally male, while victims are typically in middle or window seats, making escape more difficult.
The FBI recommends that if passengers ever feel uncomfortable, they should leave their seats promptly and notify a crew member that they need to be moved for safety reasons. Furthermore, they stress the importance of speaking out during such incidents to ensure there are witnesses for any potential investigation.
For women traveling alone, opting for an aisle seat is advised whenever possible. Additionally, if an airline does not report the incident on a passenger’s behalf, they can contact the FBI directly at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
