Helpless to come to the rescue of his wife, a quick-witted husband called the FBI’s National Threat Operations Center after learning via text message that his spouse was being sexually assaulted by her seatmate on a two-and-a-half-hour flight to Dallas, Fort Worth.
In recently filed court documents, details of the horrific crime have been made public for the first time after the FBI arrested the suspect at the center of the allegations and charged him with abusive sexual contact on an aircraft.
Bhaveshkumar Dahyabhai Shukla faces a maximum penalty of up to two years in federal prison if he is found guilty of assaulting the unnamed victim on American Airlines flight AA817 from Belgrade, MT to Dallas Fort Worth on January 26.
The victim told FBI investigators that shortly after the flight attendants had finished the inflight service, Shukla struck up a conversation with her before he started to touch her thighs, butt, and lower back area in the presence of the woman’s young daughter, who was sitting in the window seat.
When the victim told Shukla to stop, he initially complied, and then the victim took her daughter to the restroom in an attempt to diffuse the situation.
When she returned, however, Shukla began touching the victim once again.
The victim turned towards her daughter in an attempt to shield her child from what was taking place, as Shukla placed a jacket over her to shield him as he continued to touch her hip, thigh, and vagina.
Upon landing, the husband’s quick-thinking action to alert law enforcement meant that police were waiting for the plane at the gate, and they were able to interview the victim and the suspect immediately.
Shukla initially claimed that he didn’t speak English, despite the fact that he had been covering with the victim and her daughter in English before takeoff.
Dallas Police allowed Shukla to go on his way while the case was handed over to the FBI, and last week, criminal proceedings were started.
In 2023, the FBI opened 96 cases based on in-flight sexual assault allegations, according to the most recent figures released by the agency.
“As warmer weather approaches and the travel season commences, the FBI expects to see an increase in reported sexual assaults”, warns Mehtab Syed, assistant director in charge of the FBI Los Angeles Field Office.
“Flyers are urged to be aware of their surroundings and take precautions to stay safe, including keeping the armrest down between you and your seatmate and requesting a seat change if the passenger next to you engages in behavior that makes you feel uncomfortable.”
Victims can report allegations at any time,e but the FBI encourages travelers who feel comfortable to report their concerns to a flight attendant who will able to find an alternative seat for the victim and alert law enforcement to meet the aircraft once it reaches its destination.
