Summer travel season is in full swing. Let’s take a moment to discuss a serious federal crime I hope you never have to encounter, sexual assault on an airplane.
Compared to the tens of millions of U.S. citizens who fly each year, the number of in-flight sexual assault victims is relatively small, but even one victim is unacceptable. We are seeing more reports of in-flight sexual assault than ever before. This may be an underreported crime category, which is one reason we are hoping to draw added attention and encourage victims and witnesses to contact the FBI.
Unfortunately, people don’t think things like this happen on airplanes. There is a perception on an airplane that you’re in a bubble of safety. But particularly on overnight flights, where people may consume alcohol or take sleeping pills, and a dark cabin and close-quarter seating can give the perception of privacy and intimacy, offenders are tempted by opportunity.
Sexual assault aboard aircraft—which usually takes the form of unwanted touching—is a felony that can land offenders in prison. Typically, men are the perpetrators, and women and unaccompanied minors are the victims. The victims are usually in middle or window seats, sleeping, and covered with a blanket or jacket. They report waking up to their seatmate’s hands inside their clothing or underwear.
Many people don’t know, but any aircraft in flight from the moment the doors are closed until the time the doors are opened in the United States, falls under federal jurisdiction and the FBI will investigate federal crimes committed on that flight. The FBI’s airport liaison agents across the U.S. work with local and airport law enforcement when crimes are reported aboard aircraft.
Although aggravated sexual assault, sexual abuse of a minor, or abusive sexual contact may be State charges, once the location of the aircraft is introduced, it becomes a federal crime.
Flyers need to be aware of their surroundings and take a few simple precautions to stay safe. Among suggested precautions:
- Trust your gut. Offenders will often test their victims, sometimes pretending to brush against them to see how they react or if they wake up. “Don’t give them the benefit of the doubt,” Gates said. If such behavior occurs, reprimand the person immediately, and consider asking to be moved to another seat.
- Recognize that mixing alcohol with sleeping pills or other medication on an overnight flight increases your risk. “Don’t knock yourself out with alcohol or drugs,” Gates said.
- If your seatmate is a stranger, no matter how polite he or she may seem, keep the armrest between you down.
- If you are arranging for a child to fly unaccompanied, try to reserve an aisle seat so flight attendants can keep a closer watch on them. FBI has seen victims as young as 8 years old.
- If an incident happens, report it immediately to the flight crew and ask that they record the attacker’s identity and report the incident. Flight attendants and captains represent authority on the plane. They can alert law enforcement, and they can sometimes deal with the problem in the air. The flight crew can also put the offender on notice, which might prevent further problems.
If you think you are a victim or you have witnessed an incident, report the incident to your flight crew and contact the FBI. Try to take note of what has happened to better inform the responding agent or officer at the airport upon landing.
It doesn’t matter when you report an in-flight sexual assault—we take it seriously, and we will pursue it. But after the fact, these cases are much more difficult to prove. Report it immediately.
We want you to have a safe travel experience. There are all sorts of people in the air, just like on the ground.
Jeffrey R. Downey
Special Agent in Charge, FBI El Paso
With El Paso so close to the Mexican border and Mexico in the throws of revolutionary struggle during the early 1900s, southwest Texas became a key focus of the Bureau soon after its founding in 1908. As the FBI heads into its second century, the El Paso Division remains committed to protecting the people and defending the nation while upholding the rule of law and the civil liberties of all.