The FBI warns of unruly passengers as the busy travel season arrives

On November 27, 2024By Pranco

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – FBI Cleveland is warning passengers traveling to be “air aware” while flying as the number of sexual assaults on board planes increases.

According to the FBI, sexual assault on an airplane is a federal crime and a misdemeanor. They say men are usually the perpetrators of women and unaccompanied minors.

“Perpetrators look for easy opportunities to violate their victim’s space and trust. As the number of travelers increases during the holiday season, so does the number of people with nefarious intentions,” said FBI Cleveland Special Agent in Charge Greg Nelsen. “That’s why we emphasize that travelers remain air-conscious, especially when it’s easy to be distracted by our devices while in an airport or during flight.”

To know what to look for, the FBI has outlined certain behaviors to monitor:

“Although most perpetrators of sexual violence are known to the victim, sexual assaults on airplanes are notable because the victims usually do not know their attackers. Typically, an attacker sits directly next to the victim and takes advantage of this proximity. Victims are likely to sit in the middle or near the window, with the perpetrator closer to or on the aisle, effectively barricading her so she has to walk past the perpetrator to get out. Sexual violence on board aircraft follows a predictable pattern that can be routine for experienced perpetrators. Because flights last only a few hours, attackers undertake a truncated grooming process to close in on targets for control and exploitation.

The FBI says there are typically six steps to perpetuate sexual violence:

1. Identification of the victim
2. Gain trust
3. Fulfilling a need
4. Insulate
5. Initiating sexual contact
6. Stay in control

For more information, visit the FAA’s Unruly Passenger website here.