Jill of Australia
April 25, 2016
I have just seen a story about a young woman who was sexually assaulted on United Airlines via the Australian news show “The Project” (25/4/2016).
I was horrified by how the crew responded to the girl’s accusations and by how she and her mother were made to sit next to her alleged assailant for over 10 hours after the report was made to a crew member and help was requested.
But worse than this, was United Airlines written response to the family.
Whilst stating that the girl’s claims were at odds with other passengers and the crew, United Airlines then specifically commented that the girl- and she was a girl, not a woman- was wearing “short shorts” which essentially cast blame onto the girl.
In this letter, the airline insinuated to the girl that she was assaulted because of her outfit- which was a pair of pyjama shorts- but at the same time refused to accept that the staff responded inappropriately to her sexual assault.
It’s disgusting.
I will never fly United Airlines and would advise all parents to think twice before allowing their child to set foot on an United Airlines aircraft.
This girl can get no compensation due to international aircraft law and she has blamed herself for the assault.
As a global community of travellers, we owe it to her and to all children and women travellers across the world to let the United know that this is not OK.
Children and women expect to be safe from sexual assault when flying and expect help from airlines crew if safety is threatened.
