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13-Year-Old Unaccompanied Minor Groped and Harassed on American Airlines Flight
A 13-year-old girl traveling alone had an unsettling experience on an American Airlines flight from Dallas to Portland. The trouble began when 26-year-old Jake Thompson decided to sit next to her. Despite the flight being only half full, he opted to stay in his assigned middle seat beside the young passenger—an obvious red flag that went unnoticed by the flight crew. His first words upon boarding? A loud expletive, which should have raised alarms.
According to a criminal complaint obtained by news sources, it took a flight attendant about 30 minutes to notice Thompson’s inappropriate behavior. She saw his hand on the girl’s lap and noticed her distress, as a single tear rolled down her cheek. Flight attendants quickly removed Thompson from the situation, but the damage had already been done.
For half an hour, the girl endured what can only be described as a nightmare. Thompson allegedly brushed against her with each turn of his magazine, laughed when she tried to distance herself, and even tossed his headphones in her lap when she refused to share them. He repeatedly placed his hands on her knee and thigh, further escalating the torment. It was only when a flight attendant finally checked in for drink orders that the severity of the situation became apparent.
American Airlines has a policy in place for unaccompanied minors, promising to ensure they are safely boarded and introduced to the flight attendant. Parents shell out an extra $150 each way for this service, thinking they’re paying for a sort of guardian angel in the sky. Sadly, it appears they got very little for their money, as the airline’s assurances offered no real protection during the flight.
Brent Goodfellow, a lawyer representing the girl, pointed out the absurdity of expecting proper care for $300 while receiving minimal oversight. Other airlines, like JetBlue and United, have different policies that include limits on the number of unaccompanied minors per flight and additional attention to their safety. Yet, American Airlines seems to be coasting on the idea that a little extra cash can buy peace of mind—when in reality, it does nothing of the sort.
This incident has left the young girl traumatized and terrified to fly again. While one flight attendant did take action, it raises the question: how could no one else see the glaring signs of trouble when a loud adult sits next to an unaccompanied minor on a nearly empty flight? The whole situation is alarming.
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In summary, a 13-year-old girl faced an awful ordeal on an American Airlines flight, and the airline’s supposedly protective measures proved inadequate. Parents deserve better than an illusion of safety when entrusting their children to air travel.