Cases of sexual misconduct targeting women on planes have more than tripled in recent years, warned American authorities who are calling on victims to report the “alarming” trend.
“The Western District of Washington continues to see an alarming increase in sexual abuse cases on airplanes. Last August, we highlighted zero tolerance for such attacks. Unfortunately, we continue to learn of new allegations,” lamented US Attorney Tessa M Gorman in a statement, according to “The Independent” on Tuesday.
Between 2018 and 2022, cases of sexual misconduct committed against women on planes would have more than tripled, going from 27 to 90 cases before the courts, noted the authorities, and the trend would be far from running out of steam with already 62 files opened between January and August 2023, according to the latest figures.
Among them, Jack Roberson, 69, and Duane Brick, 53, reportedly pleaded guilty only last week for events that occurred respectively on flights taking off from Vancouver and Phoenix, in July and March 2023, noted the British media .
In the first case, the sixty-year-old allegedly attacked a 15-year-old girl, placing his hand on her thigh before putting it up under her skirt, during the flight between the Canadian province and Seattle, where he was arrested after having been denounced by the young girl.
The second accused, who would have pleaded guilty to abusive sexual contact, would have taken advantage of the fact that the passenger next to him seemed to be asleep to take his hand and place it on her genitals, before passing his hand under her skirt and touch his chest.
Although these two men should receive their sentence next June, the wheel continues to turn, while Abhinav Kumar, 38, reportedly pleaded not guilty on Friday to the assault of a teenage girl sitting next to him on February 18.
“Offenders have numerous opportunities to locate and evaluate ideal targets, including at the airport before departure, during the boarding process or after locating their seat,” noted the US Federal Bureau of Investigation. FBI last August.
And often, the victims do not know their attacker in these cases, he added, urging them to denounce this type of behavior.
“Those who commit these types of crimes on board planes will be held accountable,” said FBI Special Agent Richard A. Collodi last August. I am concerned about the increase in these incidents and I assure the traveling public that (we) will continue to prosecute any offender who victimizes someone on board an aircraft.”
