American Airlines Faces Major Lawsuit Over Alleged Sexual Assault During Flight.

American Airlines is facing multiple lawsuits after alleged incidents of sexual assault aboard its flights, raising significant legal questions about airline liability, passenger safety, and corporate negligence.

The most recent case involves a woman who claims the airline knowingly seated her next to a man with a history of sexual misconduct, resulting in an alleged assault during an April 2024 flight from San Francisco to Dallas.

Details of the Lawsuit
According to court filings, the plaintiff alleges that American Airlines placed her next to Cherian Abraham, a passenger reportedly under FBI investigation with a documented history of prior sexual misconduct on flights.

Despite these red flags, the airline failed to bar Abraham from flying. During the flight, the woman claims Abraham groped her, and no airline personnel intervened despite her attempts to seek help.

The lawsuit accuses American Airlines of:

• Negligence

• Intentional infliction of emotional distress

• Fraudulent concealment

• Sexual battery

Furthermore, the plaintiff asserts that the airline failed to respond adequately after she reported the incident both during and after the flight.

Pattern of Allegations Against American Airlines
This case follows similar lawsuits, including one by a New Jersey woman alleging she was assaulted by a seatmate who covered her with his jacket during a 2022 flight. In that instance, the airline also faced accusations of failing to monitor passengers and intervene in a timely manner.

Notably, the law firm Romanucci & Blandin LLC (RB Law), which is representing one of the victims, has publicly detailed the case and the broader issues of airline accountability. Their press release outlines the history of the alleged offender and emphasizes the airline’s duty to protect passengers.
Read the RB Law press release here.

Legal Perspectives
Aviation law experts suggest that these lawsuits highlight an evolving area of liability for airlines. Under the Montreal Convention and U.S. tort law, carriers owe a heightened duty of care to passengers.

While specific legal experts have not publicly commented on this case, a 2023 SMU Law Review article emphasizes that U.S. airlines can be held liable for passenger-on-passenger sexual assaults when they fail to take reasonable preventive actions. This includes not addressing known risks posed by repeat offenders.

American Airlines has not publicly commented on the specific allegations but maintains it takes all reports of passenger misconduct seriously. However, repeated incidents are raising questions about systemic failures in monitoring and preventing in-flight sexual misconduct.

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