Flyer Accuses Spirit Flight Attendant of Sexual Assault

Business Insider reports the flyer sued the Miramar-based airline for over $150,000, claiming the airline should have taken more steps to prevent the alleged incident.

Flyer Claims Attendant Offered Free Alcohol Before Attack

The flyer – identified only by initials in the lawsuit – claims he was a passenger aboard a Spirit flight to Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) on June 30, 2021, to visit family. Upon boarding, he claims a flight attendant offered him a complimentary water bottle. Water can cost up to $3 on Spirit flights.

Later, the same flight attendant is accused of making more overt passes at the passenger, including pushing mini bottles of Jack Daniels into his chest and writing his phone number on a napkin for the flyer. Before the flight landed, the traveler says the attendant asked him to come to a secluded part of the aircraft behind the rear lavatories.

That’s where the lawsuit claims the attendant launched the sexual assault. According to the lawsuit, the employee allegedly groped the male passenger and attempted to unzip his pants. The flyer notes in the suit he contacted police upon arrival but was referred to the FBI to file a complaint. The Philadelphia field office did not confirm if he gave a statement to agents about the incident.

The flyer is accusing Spirit of six different charges, including assault and gross negligence. The legal action asserts that the airline “failed to conduct a thorough background check” on the employee, who stands accused of having “propensities to sexual violence, physical violence or sexual deviance.”

Spirit has not publicly responded to the lawsuit. The allegations are still pending in front of a court and no decision has been made in the matter. Additionally, no criminal charges have been filed  in the matter.

Lawsuit Comes After Spirit Airlines Network Meltdown

The action comes after Spirit experienced one of their worst network meltdowns in history, the first of three major episodes in the U.S. During the turbulent week, Spirit cancelled over 2,800 flights, costing them over $50 million.