Title: Delta Air Lines Faces Lawsuit for Alleged Negligence in Passenger Sexual Assault Incident
Date: May 11, 2023
Delta Air Lines is facing a federal lawsuit after a male passenger allegedly groped a mother and her underage daughter on an international flight last summer. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. Eastern District Court of New York, claims that the passenger was overserved alcohol by Delta flight attendants, who continued to serve him even after being informed of his inappropriate behavior.
According to the lawsuit, the mother and her 16-year-old daughter repeatedly told flight attendants that they felt unsafe and were being inappropriately touched by the man. Despite their pleas, the flight attendants allegedly served the intoxicated passenger “approximately ten vodka on ice drinks” and other alcoholic beverages throughout the nearly nine-hour flight from John F. Kennedy International Airport to Athens, Greece.
The unnamed plaintiffs further allege that the male passenger made obscene gestures, sexually assaulted, and yelled at the 16-year-old girl during the flight. The mother, seated next to her daughter, claims to have begged the flight attendants to stop serving the man alcohol, but her requests were dismissed and their concerns downplayed.
At one point during the flight, the young girl reportedly experienced a panic attack, feeling terrified and helpless. It wasn’t until another passenger noticed her distress and offered to switch seats with her that she found some respite.
Upon landing in Greece, the man was allowed to leave the aircraft without any police intervention, despite the mother’s request for authorities to arrest him in Athens.
In response to the incident, a Delta spokesperson stated, “While we don’t have any specific comment on this pending litigation, Delta has zero tolerance for customers who engage in inappropriate or unlawful behavior. Nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and our people.”
The plaintiffs are seeking compensatory and punitive damages, with the amount to be determined at trial. CNN has reached out to the plaintiffs’ attorney for further comment on the case.
This incident raises questions about the responsibility of airlines in ensuring the safety and well-being of their passengers. As the legal proceedings progress, Delta Air Lines will likely face scrutiny for their handling of the situation and their policies concerning overserving alcohol to passengers.