- A passenger said United’s crew returned her to her seat beside a man accused of masturbating during a Rochester-to-Newark flight.
- She said she objected and remained beside the man during landing and while passengers exited the aircraft.
- She filed complaints with United, the Federal Aviation Administration and the FBI; United said it was investigating and apologized.
A passenger said United Airlines left her seated beside a man who masturbated while staring at her during a September 3 flight from Rochester to Newark Liberty International Airport. The 25-year-old pediatric crisis therapist said the crew let her stand in the aisle, then directed her back to her seat as the plane prepared to land.
She said she alerted flight attendants soon after the man began the behavior. They allowed her to stand for about an hour. The flight was full, she said, and no other seats were available.
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The crew told her she would need to sit beside the man for about five minutes while the plane landed. She said she objected more than once.
“On multiple instances, I said I feel uncomfortable doing that,”
The passenger said the wait lasted longer than she expected. Her seat was near the back, she said, so she remained beside the man while other passengers left the aircraft.
After he got off, a United gate agent responded to her, she said: “What am I supposed to do about it?”
United says it is investigating the incident and apologized
The passenger said the man walked off the plane without consequences. She described the experience this way:
“It is the first time I’ve been purposely trapped by people who were supposed to be helping me.”
United said it was looking into the report, but did not have more to share at the time of its initial response.
“We are looking into this report but don’t have anything additional to share at this time.”
The airline also said customer and colleague safety was its top priority, that it took the matter seriously and was investigating. It said it had contacted the passenger and apologized for her experience.
One account said Republic Airways operated the flight. It also said United employees learned of the allegation while passengers were deplaning.
The passenger’s account places the crew’s decision to return her to her seat before landing, and the gate agent’s response after the man had left. She said she was left beside him during the landing and the time it took passengers to exit.
She filed complaints with three agencies and received a credit
The passenger said she filed complaints with United, the Federal Aviation Administration and the FBI. She also said United offered a $100 flight credit after she had paid about $400 for the trip.
Her complaint to the airline came alongside those filed with federal agencies. United’s statements said the company had contacted her and apologized, while its investigation remained underway.
She is identified as a 25-year-old pediatric crisis therapist. The airline’s public response described an investigation and an apology; the passenger’s account centers on the crew’s handling of her request to move and the gate agent’s reaction after landing.
