Unnamed NFL player files sexual assault lawsuit against United Airlines.
An unidentified National Football League player filed suit Monday against United Airlines, after flight crew allegedly ignored numerous complaints as he and another man were sexually assaulted by a female passenger.
The incident occurred in February on a red-eye flight from Los Angeles to New Jersey.
The player, filing the civil complaint under the “John Doe 1” pseudonym, claims the woman grabbed his genitals. She is also alleged to have grabbed the second man’s groin area (John Doe 2).
“Assailant began hitting John Doe 1’s arm and elbowing him. Assailant accosted John Doe 1 and told him that he was ‘frightening,’ ordered him to move to the front and use the air in the front of the plane because he was sick,” the suit states.
John Doe 1, who was wearing a face mask, “respectfully responded that he was not sick and was being proactive, especially in wake of the growing COVID-19 concerns at that time.”
John Doe says that the woman appeared “disheveled and unbalanced.” The men claim they saw the woman taking prescription pills and believe she was intoxicated and under the influence of drugs.
The two men say they made three separate complaints to cabin crew about the woman’s behaviour. The first two complaints were allegedly ignored and the third produced a verbal warning to the passenger where she was eventually moved to a different seat.
United Airlines gave both men a $150 voucher, the lawsuit says.
“Those who report assaults should not be ignored, but believed, their claims investigated, and appropriate action taken where warranted,” attorneys for the men said in a statement.
“This matter is about accountability; not just from United but the assailant as well. Those with a duty to others should be held accountable for their failures to uphold their responsibilities.”
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