PERTH, Australia: A 52-year-old Indian national has been arrested and charged in Australia after sexually assaulting a fellow passenger during an international flight from Singapore to Perth.
According to the Australian Federal Police (AFP), the incident occurred on board a Scoot Airlines Boeing 787 aircraft on Monday, when the accused, identified by local media as Sudhir Kumar Chahuan, assaulted a woman seated beside him.
The woman, described as distressed, immediately reported the incident to the cabin crew. Airline staff responded by relocating her to another seat to ensure her safety.
Authorities were then alerted, and the flight crew continued to monitor the man for the remainder of the journey.
According to the New York Post, upon the aircraft’s arrival in Perth, law enforcement officers boarded the plane and took the suspect into custody.
He has since been charged with sexual intercourse without consent and multiple counts of indecent acts without consent, AFP confirmed.
AFP Acting Superintendent Peter Brindal stressed that passengers must feel safe while travelling, particularly in the confined environment of an aircraft. He encouraged anyone subjected to unwanted contact to report it immediately to airline staff, airport security, or police.
The accused is currently in custody and is scheduled to appear for a bail hearing on Friday. Scoot Airlines has not yet issued a detailed public comment on the incident.
