A United Airlines passenger says she was required to return to her seat beside a man who allegedly performed a lewd sexual act, even after she reported his behavior to the flight crew.
The 25-year-old pediatric crisis therapist told NBC News that the alleged incident took place Sept. 3 on an early-morning flight from Rochester, New York, to Newark, New Jersey. The outlet is withholding her name to protect her privacy.
During the approximately one-hour regional flight, she said a “pretty normal looking” and “unassuming” man in his 30s allegedly pleasured himself while staring at her.
She said she notified the flight crew and was permitted to stand in the galley for part of the flight. As the plane prepared to land, however, crew members told her to return to her seat in the rear because the flight was full.
“On multiple instances,” she told NBC News, “I said I feel uncomfortable doing that.”
A flight attendant reportedly assured her that the landing process would take only three to five minutes. The woman said it ultimately lasted longer.
The man was allegedly allowed to leave the aircraft. The woman then reported him to a male gate agent, whom she described as curt.
“What am I supposed to do about it?” the agent allegedly replied, apparently telling her that she was responsible for notifying authorities, according to NBC News.
A different United employee encouraged the woman to file complaints against the airline, which she did, as well as with the FAA. She said she later contacted the FBI.
A United representative later responded to her in an email obtained by NBC News.
“I can imagine how upsetting and uncomfortable it must have been to experience behavior from another passenger that caused you concern,” the email reportedly said, “particularly while seated in a location where you felt concerned.”
In her reply, also reviewed by NBC News, the woman said United’s message used “a lot of blaming language, which I find very offensive.”
“I DID remove myself and ask for help,” she reportedly wrote. “Additionally, framing public masturbation as ‘behavior that caused me concern’ implies that what occurred could somehow be perceived as acceptable.”
A United spokesperson told Oxygen that the safety of the airline’s customers and employees is its “top priority.”
“This incident was reported to flight attendants on a September 3 flight operated by United Express partner Republic Airways,” the statement said. “The customer stayed in the aircraft galley until returning to her seat for the landing. United Airlines staff members learned about it as customers were deplaning.”
“The safety of our customers and colleagues is our top priority,” the statement continued. “We take these matters seriously and are looking into what happened. We have been in contact with the customer and apologized for her experience.”
Republic Airways representatives did not immediately respond to Oxygen’s requests for comment. An FBI spokesperson also declined to comment when contacted by the outlet.
An FAA spokesperson referred Oxygen to the agency’s online policy regarding “unruly passengers.”
“FAA regulations specify that passengers must follow all crewmember safety instructions,” the spokesperson told Oxygen. “The FAA investigates all passenger-disturbance incidents that airlines report. The FAA pursues legal enforcement action against any passenger who assaults, threatens, intimidates, or interferes with airline crewmembers, and can propose civil penalties up to $43,658 per violation. One incident can result in multiple violations. Passengers who engage in unruly behavior can also face criminal charges.”
The woman told NBC News that United gave her a $100 credit toward the $400 flight.
“I could say it was insulting but everything about it was not so much insulting as it was super concerning,” she told the outlet. “It is the first time I’ve been purposely trapped by people who were supposed to be helping me.”
She said she hopes the man is identified and placed on a no-fly list.
“I just got the sense [he] had done it before,” she told NBC News. “People don’t just do those things at 6 a.m.”
