The man verbally and sexually harassed the plaintiffs, a mother and her 16-year-old daughter, on a nine-hour flight from JFK Airport to Athens, Greece last year, according to the Tuesday filing, which accuses the airline of gross negligence.

  • kick_out_the_jams@kbin.social
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    157
    ·
    edit-2
    1 year ago

    After the harassment had escalated from verbal to sexual assault, the mother requested that the flight attendant change their seats, but they allegedly said there was nothing they could do.

    A different male passenger volunteered to switch seats with the teen, however, and sat between the man and the mother for the remainder of the trip, according to the filing.

    It it sometimes shocking how little it takes to be someone’s hero when nobody else seems to care.

    • Radium@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      70
      ·
      1 year ago

      Seriously. I hate that some rando has to step in because the people who are literally there to step in either can’t or won’t.

      When did fucking around on planes stop being followed by finding out? This guy had zero consequences after being so overt about it that a separate third party intervened.

    • Wrench@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      25
      ·
      1 year ago

      Airlines should be required to have at least a row of seats vacant. The current standard of intentionally over booking gives the flight staff very few options to deal with unruly passengers. SOMEONE needs to occupy the seats next to belligerent passengers, because there aren’t any other options.

      This is a problem created by airline greed.

    • SweetSitty@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      9
      ·
      1 year ago

      It reminds me of being in a reverse situation. In that instance, I was the teenage girl, stuck between two guys who were drinking. Fortunately, it didn’t escalate to this extent, but it definitely made me realize my vulnerability.

    • GBU_28@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      1 year ago

      I wish another passenger had volunteered to throw him out of the plane.