FBI warns of unruly travelers as peak travel season approaches

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – FBI Cleveland is warning travelers to be “weather conscious” when flying due to an increase in sexual assaults on planes.

Sexual assault on an airplane is a federal crime and serious felony, according to the FBI. They say perpetrators against women and unaccompanied minors are usually men.

“Perpetrators look for easy opportunities to violate their victims’ space and trust. “As the number of travelers increases during the holiday season, so does the number of people with bad intentions,” said FBI Cleveland Special Agent in Charge Greg Nelsen. “That’s why we’re emphasizing travelers to be weather aware, especially in situations where it’s easy to become distracted by our devices at the airport or on a plane.”

To know what to look out for, the FBI outlined specific behaviors to watch for:

“While most perpetrators of sexual violence are known to the victim, sexual assaults on the plane stand out because the victims often do not know the attacker. The attacker often sits right next to the victim and takes advantage of this closeness. Victims are most likely seated in a middle or window seat, effectively barricading the offender closer to or in the aisle so he or she will have to walk past the offender to get out. Sexual assaults on planes follow a predictable pattern that may be routine for experienced criminals. Because flights last only a few hours, attackers engage in an abbreviated grooming process to draw targets in close for control and exploitation.

The FBI says there are generally six steps to perpetuating sexual violence:

1. Identification of the victim
2. Gaining confidence
3. Meeting a need
4. Insulation
5. Initiating sexual contact
6. Maintaining control

For more information, visit the FAA’s unruly passenger page website is here.

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