Men Groping Sleeping Women on Planes Is Pretty Common, Says FBI - Do you feel comfortable falling asleep on the airplane?

[Cafe Steph]

Men Groping Sleeping Women on Planes Is Pretty Common, Says FBI

Posted by Adriana Velez on August 22, 2012 

You know how most of us like to sleep on the plane, especially during a long flight? Well, I'm just saying -- you may want to take some precautions next time you take the red-eye. A woman on a flight from the Philippines to Hawaii took a small dose of Nyquil to help her fall asleep. Next thing she knew, the man sitting next to her was groping her!

And here's the worst part (well, unless you count the description of exactly what Mr. All Hands did). The FBI says cases of inappropriate behavior on airplanes are pretty common. They get around four calls a month with these sorts of complaints. Ugh, guys! FBI Special Agent Tom Simon says, "Understanding that this defendant is innocent until proven guilty, it's not the job of the FBI to tell a 22-year-old man to keep his hands to himself." 

Not the FBI's job -- you don't say! So let's meet this 22-year-old Romeo and find out what he did.

Luavalu Seuva'ai has been charged with sexually assaulting the woman. But get this -- he had the nerve to plead "not guilty" and claims she was "flirting" with him and he was just flirting back. Because that's how flirting works. You smile politely to the guy sitting next to you who won't shut up, and he responds by "flirtatiously" sticking his hands up your bra. YES, THAT'S HOW BAD IT WAS. Ugh.

I'm just glad that, even though this story is now going to make me paranoid about falling asleep on a plane, at least the FBI isn't issuing idiotic "women beware!" warnings and tips on protecting yourself from the man-child sitting next to you who can't control himself. It's not OUR job to tell a 22-year-old man to keep his hands to himself, either. Instead, Agent Tom says, "To state the obvious, a woman should be able to fall asleep on an airplane without being groped by her seat mate." Jeebus, I'm glad we're in agreement about that!

Do you feel comfortable falling asleep on the airplane?

[Emilytrademark]

I used to. Not anymore...

[mommyg97]

That's disgusting. As if a plane ride isn't uncomfortable enough already, what pigs!

[RollingStone]

How many men get groped..?

[GLWerth]

I never fly without my husband...so it's usually him groping me if it happens at all.

[Bieg9093]

 I would still feel perfectly comfortable napping on a plane.  Then again, I'm the type who would also feel perfectly comfortable elbowing a groper in the head as many times as I could before my fellow passengers saved his life.

[lga1965]

 I have never been able to sleep on a plane--not even when we flew to Germany 4 times ( Air Force transfers) and that was more than 10 hours. They wouldn't get a chance to feel me up. But if I ever did fall asleep and it happened, I woud punch the guy's lights out. I can't imagine ot happens that often though.

By the way,I flew to NC and back this month and nobody groped me or anyone else in the line. We all went through the x-ray thingy. ( No,I am not afraid of cancer...LOL )

[EireLass]

If it were me I'd just assume it's a carry-over from TSA. I always get the full pat-down at security.

[Cake.Lady]

Wow. 

I made out with a random stranger on an airplane, once. He bought me pre-flight drinks and I got tipsy. We landed, and I never talked to him again. LMAO. I was young. Don't judge.

[Radarma]

 LOL, lucky for me, I cannot sleep on flights. I have to be ready for the crash.

:D

[mustloveanimals]

It also happens all the time on trains like Amtrak. And people can easily go through your purse. No, I do not fall asleep on anything, partly for safety, partly for fear of missing my stop, and partly because I am not a "good sleeper."