A teenage girl who claims she was groped by an elderly man on a flight has been told by the airline she ‘wore extremely short shorts’ and had repeatedly climbed over another passenger.
Chelsea Schiffel was travelling with her family from LA to Sydney on a United Airlines flight in July 2014 at the age of 15 when she alleges she was touched inappropriately, News Corp reported.
The girl alleges the man touched her breasts twice after her mother Narelle, 42, had got up to speak to a family member, who was seated in the rear of the plane.
Chelsea Schiffel (pictured) was on a flight in July 2014 when she alleges she was touched inappropriately
When her mother complained to airline staff members and demanded for different seats, the pair were asked to return to their same seats for the remainder of the flight.
In a letter to the family, United Airlines denied the pair’s allegations and suggested her choice of clothing may have bear some of the blame.
‘The flight attendants and passengers also stated that you and your daughter were allowed to move to other seats several times, that Chelsea repeatedly moved in and out of her seat, crawling over the other customer who was attempting to sleep, and that your daughter wore extremely short shorts,’ the United Airlines said in a letter, obtained by News Corp.
‘You have provided no evidence of any negligence on the part of United regarding this matter.’
She was travelling with her family from LA to Sydney on a United Airlines flight at the age of 15 (stock image)
However, Chelsea said what a woman wears should not bear any responsibility for any alleged sexual attack on them.
‘For me it comes across, by them saying that, (it) feels like they were telling me that I was asking for it,’ Chelsea told the publication.
The family has attempted to take legal actions against United Airlines but insufficient evidence has hindered the case.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted United Airlines for comment.
Source – Daily Mail