United Airlines is under pressure from Congress over how its crews handle sexual misconduct. In a letter to CEO Scott Kirby, 29 House Democrats, led by the Democratic Women's Caucus and Michigan Rep. Debbie Dingell, are demanding to know why a woman who reported that the man next to her was performing a sex act was sent back to sit beside him.
The lawmakers have given United until Friday, October 16, to answer five questions about its policies and training.
United Airlines
Congress Wants Answers
- How it defines sexual misconduct
- Why police weren't called and the passenger wasn't moved
- What crews are supposed to do when it's reported
- How it will improve crew training
- How it will make women feel safe on its flights
The passenger was offered a $100 credit on a $400 trip. United says it's investigating, and so is the FAA.
Contrail
What Happened on the Flight
The incident happened over Labor Day weekend on a roughly hour-long United Express flight from Rochester, New York, to Newark. United Express flights are run by smaller partner airlines, and this one was operated by Republic Airways.
According to the passenger, a 25-year-old woman, the man in the seat next to her began performing a lewd act while staring at her. She told the flight attendants and asked to move, but the flight was full. She was allowed to stand for part of the flight, then told to return to her seat beside him for landing.
She told NBC News that she felt "trapped." The airline didn't contact law enforcement, and she says a gate agent told her it was up to her to ask for police. The man walked off the plane in Newark with everyone else. United later offered her a $100 travel credit on a $400 trip.
United has said it takes the matter seriously, has apologized to the passenger and is investigating. The FAA is also investigating, according to the lawmakers.
What Congress Is Asking
The letter says the passenger's "discomfort about returning to her seat was ignored multiple times," and that United staff described what happened as behavior that caused "concern" rather than sexual misconduct.
The lawmakers want United to explain:
- How it defines sexual misconduct, and whether this incident met that definition
- Why the crew didn't notify law enforcement, move the passenger or deal with the man
- What its crews are supposed to do when someone reports sexual misconduct in flight
- How it plans to improve training so crews respond quickly and put the passenger's safety first
- How it will make women feel safe on its flights
Dingell told Bloomberg Government that United's answers could help decide whether federal law needs to change, and pointed to next year's reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act as one way to do it. "A woman should be able to get on a plane and feel safe," she said.
Why It Matters
Sexual misconduct on planes is more common than most travelers realize, and it's especially hard to deal with in a cabin where there's nowhere to go. On a full flight, moving a passenger can mean asking someone else to give up their seat, which crews can do. Many travelers would gladly swap.
The bigger question is what happens on the ground. Crimes on board US flights fall under the FBI's jurisdiction, and crews can radio ahead so police meet the plane at the gate. That's exactly what happened in other recent cases Contrail has covered, from unruly passengers to assaults. In this case, according to the passenger, it didn't happen at all.
If It Happens to You
If someone behaves inappropriately toward you on a flight, tell a flight attendant right away and ask to be moved. You can also ask the crew to have law enforcement meet the plane when it lands, and you have the right to report it to the FBI yourself. Writing down the time, your seat number and the other person's seat can help if you report it later.
