Media Release
Sydney man in court over alleged indecent assault on flight from Los Angeles
Editor’s note: An image of the man is available via Hightail.
A Sydney man is expected to appear in Downing Centre Local Court today (9 July, 2025) over the alleged indecent assault of another passenger on an international flight from the United States in May.
The AFP investigated after an airline crew reported a man, 36, allegedly touched a woman inappropriately on the thigh and buttock while she tried to sleep during a flight on 29 May, 2025.
The man had allegedly moved seats to sit in the same row as the woman, who he did not know.
When crew members became aware of the alleged incident, they moved the woman to a different section of the aircraft for the remainder of the flight.
The AFP met the plane when it landed and interviewed the man and alleged witnesses, before issuing the man with a court attendance notice for one count of act of indecency without consent, contrary to section 60 of the Crimes Act 1900 (ACT).
The maximum penalty for this offence is seven years’ imprisonment.
AFP Detective Inspector Dom Stephenson said any allegations of inappropriate or criminal behaviour on land or in the air would be taken seriously and investigated.
“No one on an aircraft should feel unsafe because of the behaviour of other travellers and if someone has committed an offence, the AFP will take action,” Det Insp Stephenson said.
