Barbara Morgan, a California woman, has filed a lawsuit against American Airlines, alleging she was sexually assaulted by a fellow passenger on a flight.
The incident occurred on a red-eye flight from San Francisco to Dallas on April 24, 2024. The lawsuit, was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
It accuses the airline of negligence, claiming it failed to protect Morgan despite knowing about the alleged assailant’s history.
The 2024 Inflight Incident
Morgan was seated next to Cherian Abraham, a passenger previously reported to American Airlines for a 2023 sexual assault allegation. According to the lawsuit, Abraham assaulted Morgan during the flight.
Despite her yelling “Stop!” twice, the flight crew did not assist her. Morgan’s legal team argues that the airline prioritized profits over passenger safety. They allege that the airline had allowed Abraham to continue flying despite prior complaints.
The lawsuit highlights a pattern of mishandling in-flight sexual assault cases by American Airlines.
After the incident, Morgan reported the assault to American Airlines’ customer service. The airline’s response was reportedly delayed and dismissive, blaming her for not reporting the incident during the flight.
Charges for Similar Incident
This lack of accountability left Morgan feeling ignored and unsafe. Adding to the severity, Abraham was charged in March 2025 with abusive sexual contact for another in-flight assault on a Chicago-to-Seattle flight.
This marks at least his third accusation of sexual misconduct on American Airlines flights.
The case has sparked public outrage, with discussions on social media highlighting concerns about airline safety protocols. Morgan’s attorneys argue that American Airlines’ failure to act on prior allegations enabled further incidents.
They cite other cases where the airline allegedly mishandled in-flight sexual assault reports, pointing to systemic issues in passenger protection.
Conclusion
This lawsuit raises critical questions about airline responsibility and passenger safety. Morgan’s experience underscores the need for stricter policies to prevent and address in-flight assaults.
According to Fox News, Morgan’s attorney, Sarah M. Raisch, said that American Airlines has been aware for years that sexual assaults on overnight flights are increasing.
“When will corporations finally believe women? What needs to happen for corporations to finally take women’s safety seriously?”, Raisch said to the news outlet.
As the case progresses, it may push for industry-wide changes to ensure airlines prioritize passenger well-being over financial interests.
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