An unnamed NFL player has taken legal action against United Airlines after alleging his complaints of being sexually harassed, abused and violated by a female passenger were not handled properly.
The inciting incident allegedly took place on a red-eye flight from Los Angeles to Newark back in February. The player in question is an African-American man, referred to in proceedings as ‘John Doe 1,’ and filed a civil suit on Monday in Los Angeles County Superior Court. He is seeking reparations from the airline for failing to stick to its policy of “affirmative duty to aid and protect its passengers.”
Reports of the incident claim that the player, along with another African-American male passenger, were repeated subject to unwanted advances by a white female passenger. The two men were seated in the aisle and middle seats of an economy-class flight, with the woman sitting in the window seat. The report alleges she was visibly under the influence of drugs and alcohol and made several attempts to stroke the player’s lap and inner thigh.
The player claims his complaints to staff were initially ignored, and he had to leave his seat after the woman grabbed his penis. While he went to find the flight attendants, the woman allegedly moved into his seat to begin harassing the other passenger. She was then eventually moved.
A 2018 FBI report claims incidents of sexual assault on airline flights are increasing drastically, with most occurring on overnight flights of three hours or more when lights are dimmed and alcohol is often consumed.
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