Sexual assaults on planes: Why it's time for airlines to take them more seriously
Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. But of an altogether more serious magnitude is the phenomenon of sexual assaults on planes – as reportedly suffered by Allison Dvaladze on a Delta flight from Seattle to Amsterdam last year. He grabbed me again and I hit him again and the third time he went to grab me I tried to block myself and he hit me.” She alerted the cabin crew, but says: “It’s clear to me that they’re not trained to handle these situations.” Petty crime in aircraft is a well-known phenomenon, usually involving thefts from bags. In a statement, Delta told me: “When we become aware of incidents onboard, we always investigate so appropriate action may be taken, coordinating with local law enforcement when requested by the customer and crew.” Airlines, in my experience, tend to be good at warning passengers about the consequences of bad behaviour, but poor at following through.
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