Delta Air Lines Faces Lawsuit After Alleged Sexual Assault on Flight
A new lawsuit has been filed against Delta Air Lines, accusing the airline of negligence and responsibility for a passenger’s alleged sexual assault on a minor and her mother during a flight. The plaintiffs are seeking $2 million in damages.
According to the lawsuit filed in New York’s Eastern District, the incident occurred on a Delta flight from JFK airport in New York to Athens, Greece, in late July 2022. The plaintiffs, a woman and her 16-year-old daughter, were seated next to an unnamed male passenger who was served at least 10 vodkas on ice by flight attendants, despite already being visibly intoxicated upon boarding.
As the nearly 9-hour flight progressed, the intoxicated passenger reportedly made the women feel unsafe by yelling, making obscene gestures, and touching the minor inappropriately. The lawsuit alleges that the flight attendants on board did nothing to prevent the man’s behavior or limit his alcohol consumption.
The situation further escalated when the man ran to the restroom and vomited. In the meantime, the mother attempted to have their seats changed but was unsuccessful. Desperate for help, she reached out to a flight attendant multiple times, but each time, her pleas were dismissed.
The lawsuit details that the teenage girl eventually had a panic attack, during which the male passenger reached under her shirt and assaulted her. Upon landing, the woman and her daughter were offered 5,000 “Sky Miles” by Delta as an apology, but the airline failed to report the man’s behavior to the authorities.
Incidents of passengers misbehaving on flights have been on the rise since travel resumed post-pandemic, with conflicts occurring between passengers or between passengers and airline staff. According to the plaintiffs’ lawyer, Evan Brustein, this incident was “completely preventable.”
In response to the lawsuit, Delta released a statement expressing their zero-tolerance policy for inappropriate or unlawful behavior. However, the airline has refrained from commenting on the specific details of the pending litigation.
The victims’ lawyer described the incident as a “nightmare” and emphasized that airlines have the responsibility to not only ensure safe landings but also to protect their passengers’ safety. The plaintiffs are seeking justice and compensation for the traumatizing experience they endured.
As the case moves forward, this incident highlights the ongoing need for airlines to prioritize passenger safety and implement effective measures to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.
For any leads or information related to this case, reach out to [email protected].
(Video loading…)