A woman has reported being sexually assaulted while asleep on a flydubai flight from Dubai to Bangkok, with her four-year-old daughter in her arms. The incident occurred on August 3 on flight FZ-1583, a six-hour journey.
Assault during flight
The 33-year-old, returning from a trip to Venice, said she had taken sleeping pills for the flight. She woke to find the man beside her squeezing her backside and touching himself. She said there was semen on her upper right thigh and her leggings were damp.
When she woke, the man withdrew his hand, covered it with his jacket, and pretended to adjust the entertainment screen while glancing at her. The woman waited until landing in Bangkok to report the incident to cabin crew and file a police report.
Admission and police involvement
Speaking through an interpreter, the flight attendant asked the man if he had done what she reported. He initially denied it but later admitted the assault. The woman said the man then cried and begged for forgiveness on his knees, but the flight attendant insisted police be involved.
The man was part of a tour group, and some members pleaded for forgiveness on his behalf. The woman said four or five people tried to intervene. Her daughter was taken away by the captain to avoid witnessing the scene.
Police response and awareness
Tourist police and immigration officers boarded the plane and removed the alleged offender. Police Lieutenant Colonel Chamnanyut Konkong of the Don Mueang district station said the suspect was denied entry into Thailand and mediation would be attempted as normal procedure.
The woman said she wanted to raise awareness about risks to solo female travellers. She said, "Passengers are often sleeping during long flights, and women travelling alone can be vulnerable. This happened even though I was travelling with my child." She urged others to report incidents and not feel embarrassed.
Flydubai declined to comment, citing passenger privacy and ongoing investigations. A spokesperson said, "The safety of our passengers and crew is our top priority."
