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Woman suing American Airlines over masturbating incident

by Jeffrey White on Mar 17th 2008 at 12:20PM

Here's a question: Are airline passengers covered under the mythical Rule 240 if they fall victim to a rogue, in flight masturbator?

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram is reporting that a 21-year-old Texas woman has now filed a $200,000 lawsuit against American Airlines for failing to protect her against a pervert.

The woman alleges that while sleeping on a flight from Dallas to Los Angeles last year, a man changed his seat, sat next to her and preceded to "masturbate to her" before ejaculating in her hair.

The woman tried to get the attention of flight attendants, to no avail. A few passengers finally intervened (she woke up to the guy still going at it, the newspaper says) and when the plane landed at LAX he was arrested.

During the investigation that followed, flight attendants said they saw the man change his seat. The woman accuses the flight staff of not properly vetting passengers to keep the cabin free of unsafe situations.

American has apologized to the woman, but she still wants a jury trial and damages.

Filed under: Airlines, Travel Health, Consumer Activism

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Nick Hawkins Mar 17th 2008 2:25PM

There's so much that's not being told about this story... I'd love to know what really happened. Rogue inflight masturbators definitely need to be cuffed, but how is this the airline's fault?

If AA "failed" to protect her, then AA "fails" to protect me from douchebag loudmouth businessmen.

Bill Mar 17th 2008 10:30PM

I think that she has a case. The flight attendants are responsible for the safety of their passengers. If the perpetrator is convicted of a crime, that will lend weight to the civil case.

Having a businessman talk your ear off is not in the same category.

Bill Johnson Mar 23rd 2008 1:54AM

Sexual criminal behavior/sexual assualt in this case shouldd be proscuted, but is the airlines responsible, I say no, did the victim in this case do anything that may have led this person on...I think not as she is yet another victim of a male who wanted to control another human being.

Andy Mar 17th 2008 11:47PM

The amount that she is seeking redress is quite small. More that likely, after consulting with one of my professors who was an aviation attorney before entering teaching believes that AA will more that likely settle this matter out of court, because it is such a low amount.

Nick Hawkins Mar 19th 2008 9:37PM

It's a scam. Andy's right - it's a case that's very likely to be settled because of the dollar amount - it's probably cheaper to pay her to go away. Frivolity - we've heard of it.

Tim Mar 20th 2008 11:43AM

You are saying you think they are in on it together? That's a good plan actually. I would have asked for 2 mil. though. And that guy is lucky he didn't do that on my wife or gf, I would be in jail with him.

thom Mar 20th 2008 2:29PM

How could the other passengers not see that this man was masturbating. When a man masturbates his arm(s) move, sometimes his body shakes, and one can hear deep or altered breathing patterns. Airline seats are very close together so how could he have done this unless he had a blanket over most of his body. If the sleping girl says she tried to get help to no avial, what does she mean? It takes 2 seconds to jump up and say something. This is very strange.