In what has to be one of the weirdest and most unpleasant travel experiences documented for a while, a man has been arrested in Los Angeles for touching himself inappropriately during a flight from New York.
The man was witnessed by a 17 year old female passenger who was sitting across the aisle from him. The passenger positioned his airline blanket so that his activity could not be seen by passengers on the other side of him. This may make you re think using an airline provided blanket on your next flight. She advised the cabin crew of the situation twice during the six hour flight. What is bizarre is that the airline crew were unable to stop the man, refused to move him and would not accommodate the request by the female passenger to move as there here were no empty seats in her class. This was despite the crew agreeing that the man’s behaviour was “disgusting“.
Her family informed law authorities upon arrival into Los Angeles. They arrested the man who pleaded guilty to the crime. The woman and and her family are suing United Airlines for negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and false imprisonment. United Airlines released a statement saying, “The comfort and security of our customers is our top priority, and we will closely review this complaint when we receive it.”
Considering that passengers have been almost kicked off planes for T shirt slogans, why was this man left alone? Planes have been diverted because passengers have been singing too loudly! This has not been the first time, a passenger has behaved this way. Surely airlines have rules about on board lewd behaviour. Was it because the crew were too shocked and embarrassed or was it because the claimant was a young girl? I have also been surprised at the lack of empathy for the discomfort of the young passenger. This aint a joke.
Related Posts
I find it unexceptable the airline crew were unable to stop this man especially since, as you mentioned they have thrown people off flights for way less. The fact that something like this happen and in front of young girl…with the crew KNOWING about it is just plain awful. I hope she gets a nice payout and the airline crew suspended + some!
I think it’s disgusting too but in today’s age of social media, probably best for the girl to simply videotape the guy and post it on youtube and let it go viral —- and thereafter United will probably do something.
“The woman and and her family are suing United Airlines for negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and false imprisonment.”
Haha, the woman is suing for MONEY. Disgusting behaviour: yes. Should he have been removed: yes. But traumatizing for a woman sitting across the aisle, puhlease…
I think people are not sympathetic because a girl (17 year old) saw something she didn’t like, which we still don’t have any details about, and wants paid for it. What about the people sitting next to the guy?
This is the first report I read that noted she was sitting across the aisle. If this was a full flight, did the passengers seated next to the guy say anything? How could they not have noticed if she did?
Scott and Tracy, The passenger positioned his airline blanket so that his activity could not be seen by passengers on the other side of him
Ralf, would you find it acceptable if it happened to your 17 year old daughter, sister or cousin in this situation?