‘Hit that call button’: FBI warns of ‘alarming’ increase in sexual assaults on US flights

The FBI in Maryland is warning travellers taking to US skies this summer to be cautious as airlines nationwide have seen a recent spike in the number of sexual assaults reported on commercial flights.

The assaults, which typically occur on long, overnight flights, are “increasing every year … at an alarming rate,” said David Rodski, an FBI special agent assigned to investigate crimes out of Baltimore-Washington International Marshall Airport.

“This is statistically still very rare; however, it is very good advice for people travelling to have situational awareness,” said Rodski, one of several law enforcement officials who gathered at the Washington-area airport Wednesday to warn travellers about the disturbing trend.

In 2014, airline passengers reported 38 instances of sexual assault on flights, compared with 63 reports in 2017, according to the FBI, a 66 per cent increase.

Rodski said the reports are coming from airports across the country and urged passengers to flag assaults immediately so law enforcement officials can effectively investigate and prosecute the cases.

“What we’re finding is a lot of people do not report the act” or report long after the incident occurs, Rodski said. “Hit that call button … notify the flight crew immediately.”