Drunk Passenger Assaults Minor, Mother on 9-Hour Flight, Airline Faces USD 2 Million Lawsuit

International

oi-Madhuri Adnal

A male passenger on a nine-hour Delta Air Lines flight sexually assaulted a mother and her teenage daughter, according to a recent report from Fox Business. During the journey from JFK Airport in New York City to Athens, Greece on July 26, 2022, a male passenger allegedly assaulted a mother and her adolescent daughter. As a consequence, the airline is now facing a lawsuit demanding USD 2 million in damages for willful negligence and seeking compensation for the victims involved.

Court records indicate that throughout the flight, the male passenger displayed clear signs of intoxication and aggressive behavior. Shockingly, the flight attendants reportedly ignored the pleas for help from the victims and continued serving the man alcoholic beverages.

The lawsuit, filed in the Eastern District of New York, details how what was supposed to be a nearly nine-hour journey turned into a distressing ordeal. The intoxicated man allegedly harassed and acted aggressively towards the mother and her daughter throughout the flight.

Compounding the issue, the crew purportedly allowed the intoxicated man to leave the aircraft upon arrival at the destination without reporting the alleged sexual assault to local or federal law enforcement, as reported by Fox Business.

Pakistan Airlines Flight PK248 Enters Indian Airspace, Flies Over 3 States For An Hour

The court papers reveal that the man was seated close to the mother and her daughter and began trying to engage the 16-year-old girl in conversation after consuming a few beers. The girl attempted to ignore him, which only seemed to provoke his anger, leading to him shouting and behaving aggressively towards her.

In addition to making inappropriate gestures, the man demanded personal information such as her address, causing the girl to feel terrified. The situation escalated when he placed his hands on her back without consent.

The girl’s mother intervened, informing the man that her daughter was a minor, but he callously dismissed her concerns. As the scene drew attention from other passengers, the woman approached the flight attendants seeking help. Regrettably, they allegedly advised her to be patient and did not take immediate action.

To make matters worse, the intoxicated man resumed his disturbing behavior towards the child, even revealing personal information such as his location of residence in Connecticut. He continued to behave disruptively, kicking the seats in front of them.