A female resident of California has initiated a lawsuit in federal court.
lawsuit against American Airlines
, stating she was sexually assaulted during an overnight flight by a passenger who had previous allegations of similar behavior. NBC News
reports
Barbara Morgan claims that the event took place on an overnight flight from San Francisco to Dallas in April 2024. According to her account, during this journey, a passenger named Cherian Abraham, who is based in Texas and around 54 years old, persistently tried to make inappropriate physical contact with her. This included attempts to place his hand under her clothing even though she clearly voiced her objections.
As stated in the legal complaint, the flight attendants did not manage to
intervene during the assault
, and subsequently, airline officials tried to hold Morgan responsible for not bringing up the issue during the flight. During the event in question, Morgan was seated in a middle seat when she claimed the assault took place. She stated that Abraham disregarded her requests for him to cease his inappropriate behavior, making her feel “frozen” and trapped due to the limited space inside the airplane cabin.
American Airlines Was Aware of Prior Incidents
Morgan’s lawsuit alleges that American Airlines was aware of Abraham’s background, noting previous incidents traceable back to 2023. Attorney Sarah M. Raisch charged the airline with this accusation.
news release
Regarding the situation where Abraham became “a repeat offender under their supervision and using their aircraft,” when Morgan came forward about her encounter post-landing, she anticipated that the airline would implement substantial measures to safeguard future travelers. However, according to her, instead of receiving support, she encountered indifferent reactions and accusations, as though she were at fault.
Morgan’s lawyer points out that American Airlines has known for several years about the rise in sexual assaults occurring during red-eye flights but hasn’t implemented adequate preventative actions. “At what point will companies start believing women? When will they prioritize women’s safety?” Raisch questioned. Morgan shared her experience publicly with the hope of encouraging these corporations to enhance their efforts in safeguarding travelers.
Morgan’s
The lawsuit alleges that the airline was negligent.
Emotional distress and concealment, along with charges of sexual assault and gender-based violence against Abraham. The defense contends that the airline has consistently disregarded alerts regarding in-flight sexual attacks, labeling this oversight as “a failure of fundamental duty.”
The post
Woman Files Lawsuit Against American Airlines Following In-Flight Sexual Assault by Serial Offender
first appeared on Travel Noire.
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