FBI launches campaign about sexual assault on aircraft

SEATAC, Wash. — The FBI on Thursday launched a new campaign about sexual assault on aircraft, reminding passengers it is a federal crime and urging victims to come forward.

Special Agent Bruce Reynolds said even, if an assault happened years ago, FBI agents want to hear from passengers.

"I believe it's an underreported crime. A lot of times people are reluctant to come forward," Reynolds said.

The FBI said the number of reports of sexual assaults on airplanes has risen from 38 in fiscal year 2014 to 63 in the fiscal year that ended in 2017.

"It is a risk of flying, especially on the dark long-haul night flights," said Allison Dvaladze, who is suing Delta Air Lines after, she said, she was sexually assaulted on a flight from Seattle to Amsterdam in 2016.

"About three hours into the flight, I was dozing off to sleep when the passenger next to me grabbed my crotch so I hit his hand. I yelled, 'No.'"

Although Dvaladze immediately told the flight crew, she said the assailant, who had switched seats, was never identified.

Dvaladze is urging airlines to train flight crews how to address sexual assaults and better identify potentially dangerous passengers, who might switch seats or become intoxicated.

She also suggests adding a message to in-flight safety briefings.

"We know that it's a crime to tamper with a smoke detector. Everyone knows it," Dvaladze said.

The FBI's new public message urges passengers to take precautions, such as booking children traveling alone in aisle seats so flight attendants can easily see if they're safe, keeping armrests down and asking to be reseated if your gut tells you someone's behavior is suspicious.

Reynolds also suggests passengers "not be in a situation where you consume too much alcohol, or maybe on long flights, overnight flights, where you take sleeping pills."

Delta Air Lines declined comment on Dvaladze's lawsuit but said in a statement that Delta crews are "trained to respond to a number of onboard passenger disruptions."

Alaska Airlines also recently started new training for its crews.

Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, sponsored a bill requiring that onboard sexual misconduct be reported to a law enforcement agency.

An Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill that's up for a vote does not include that requirement, but does mandate sexual assault training for flight attendants, and creates a working group to address response protocols, such as notifying a law enforcement agency.

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