A woman flying on United Airlines from London to Chicago experienced the unthinkable when she saw the man next to her masturbating under a blanket.
Genevieve Pascolla is a 26-year-old photographer based in Chicago. When she saw the man next to her start masturbating, she woke the other woman next to her and they alerted the flight attendants who reseated them.
But their problems didn't stop there. The flight attendants reportedly made jokes about the situation, asking Pascolla what perfume she was wearing and saying that the man had had a "bit of wine". Pascolla's disgust at the United employees actions were prolonged when they allowed him to "finish" with a child seated closeby.
Ms. Pascolla contacted United Airlines customer service to report the incident. It took her a month and a half to receive this response:
United Airlines sent spokeswoman Maddie King to speak with BuzzFeed News on the incident. She assured them that customer safety is a "top priority" and "that's why, in this case, our customers were promptly moved to different seats in a different section of the plane and law enforcement officials were summoned in advance to meet the perpetrator when the plane pulled into the gate." Pascolla was also offered a voucher for half of her airfare as "compensation as a goodwill gesture" and she was called later that day for a "wellness check". She was also met by a security guard upon landing and was asked if she wanted an apology from the man. She declined.
Twitter is appalled.
Considering the political climate and the surge of the #MeToo movement, it is shocking that a major airline such as United would equate a sexual assault to an "uncomfortable experience." Hopefully Genevieve's horrifying experience can be the impetus for United and other companies to make sure nothing like this is ever handled this way again.
H/T: Vice, BuzzFeed News
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