A 52-year-old Indian passenger has been arrested after he allegedly sexually assaulted a woman sitting next to him on a flight to Australia.
Sudhir Kumar Chahuan is accused of attacking the female passenger on a Scoot Airlines flight en route from Singapore to Perth on Monday, the Australian Federal Police said.
The distraught woman quickly alerted the flight crew and was moved to a different seat.
Sudhir Kumar Chahuan is accused of targeting the female passenger on a Scoot Airlines flight en route from Singapore to Perth on Monday. Matteo Ceruti – stock.adobe.com Airline staff then kept tabs on the man for the rest of the flight after alerting authorities, according to cops.
The alleged perp was hauled off the flight when it landed, and he has since been charged with sexual intercourse without consent and multiple counts of indecency without consent.
“Every passenger has the right to feel safe when traveling, especially when confined in an aircraft close to other passengers,” AFP Acting Superintendent Peter Brindal said in a statement.
“Anyone subjected to (alleged) unwanted contact is encouraged to alert the authorities, be it airline staff, the AFP or airport security, as soon as it is safely possible to do so.
“No act of indecency on an aircraft or at an airport is appropriate, and any travelers who break the law will be dealt with swiftly.”
The suspect, who was identified by the West Australian newspaper, is currently being held in custody ahead of a bail hearing set for Friday.
The Post reached out to Scoot Airlines but didn’t hear back immediately.
