A woman is suing Alaska Airlines for negligence after she was allegedly sexually assaulted mid-flight by an apparently intoxicated passenger while flying out from Seattle.
According to the suit, the woman was flying to Hawaii on May 14, 2023. The woman later told law enforcement that the man tried to grab her hand for an unwanted kiss and later grabbed her breast and groped her.
The suit claims that the man appeared sober at first but that flight attendants continually refilled his glass of wine.
The lawsuit alleges negligence, assault, and battery against the passenger and negligence against Alaska Airlines for “grossly overserving” the man alcohol and failing to protect the victim.
While the victim has been in contact with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Hawaii, she is unclear on how possible criminal charges were handled. The victim was told the defendant paid a fine, according to her attorney.
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“With this lawsuit, our client hopes for accountability and justice,” said attorney Mark Lindquist. “She doesn’t want drunken sexual assaults happening to others.”
The same year that the assault occurred, the FBI and the Port of Seattle have released a report indicating an increase in mid-flight sexually assaults, particularly out of the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
“Since the first of the year, we have seen an increase in reports of sexual assaults on aircraft. It is quite unusual for us to have four filed cases as well as multiple active, but as yet uncharged, investigations in our office at one time,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa Gorman in 2023. “We take these cases seriously and work with the FBI to investigate and prosecute them. Federal prison is the destination for those convicted of sexual abuse on an aircraft.”
In 2018, the FBI investigated 27 sexual misconduct cases aboard aircraft. Just four years later, in 2022 that number had more than tripled to 90 cases. 2023 is on pace to surpass the 90 cases, with 62 cases under investigation in the first half of the year.
KIRO 7 has reached out to Alaska Airlines for comment.