Police met a United Airlines flight at Chicago O'Hare on Monday after a woman reported a case of indecent exposure by the man sitting next to her in the middle of the flight. It's at least the third time since early September that a woman has publicly said a seatmate on a United flight did something like this, and in the two earlier cases, the women said the way the situation was handled made it worse. Here's what happened, and what you can do if it ever happens to you.
What Happened on the Chicago Flight
United flight 516 left Atlanta on the afternoon of Monday, Oct. 26, for the roughly 90-minute trip to O'Hare on an Airbus A319. According to the aviation news site AirLive, while the plane was cruising at about 36,000 feet, a woman in the middle or aisle seat realized the man in the window seat beside her was masturbating. Police met the plane when it arrived in Chicago. Whether the man was arrested or charged hasn't been reported so far.
Not the First Report This Fall
On Sept. 3, a 25-year-old woman on a United Express flight from Rochester, New York, to Newark, operated by Republic Airways, said the man next to her was engaging in indecent conduct. She told the crew and was allowed to stand for part of the flight, but she says flight attendants told her to go back to her assigned seat before landing because the flight was full. She also says the man walked off the plane at Newark without being stopped by police, that a gate agent told her it was up to her to call them, and that United gave her a $100 flight credit.
In a second case reported in October, a woman flying overnight in first class from San Diego to Newark said the man next to her watched pornography on his phone and masturbated under a blanket. She says she was only moved after she asked, and the man reportedly left the plane without police involvement. United said it apologized, banned the passenger while it investigates and offered her $1,000 in travel credit or 50,000 miles.
These are allegations, and none of the men involved have been reported as charged. Incidents like this aren't unique to United, either. But the three cases have put a spotlight on what crews are expected to do when a passenger reports one, and on what passengers can do themselves.
What to Do if It Happens to You
Tell a flight attendant as soon as you can, quietly if that feels safer, and ask to be moved. Even on a full flight, the crew can ask another passenger to swap seats with you. You can also ask the crew to have police meet the plane, since the captain can radio ahead before landing, which is what happened in Chicago.
While it's fresh, write down the flight number, both seat numbers, the time and what you saw, and ask the crew to document the report too. Crimes on US flights fall under federal law, so you can also report it to the FBI at tips.fbi.gov. Once you're home, file a complaint with the airline, and if you're not happy with the response, with the US Department of Transportation.
