Female Ryanair passenger, 22, ‘is sexually assaulted by man sitting next to her after passing out’
A 39-year-old Tunisian man has been charged with sexually assaulting a 22-year-old woman on a Ryanair flight from Malta to Nantes after she fainted mid-flight. The case has drawn attention because the victim was unconscious for part of the alleged assault, with her lawyer describing it as an example of a vulnerable woman being "seen as prey, even on an aeroplane."
The woman fainted shortly after take-off on 19 July, falling onto a tray table and then the shoulder of the man seated beside her; on regaining consciousness she alleged he had been kissing her neck and went on to grope her under her clothing before she managed to pull away. She reported the incident to her family and border police upon landing, and was later examined at a forensic medical unit in Nantes. The suspect, reportedly homeless, was placed on a wanted persons database and arrested at Nantes Airport on 31 August as he returned from Tunisia; he has confirmed he was seated next to the victim but denies the allegations. He faces a psychiatric evaluation ahead of trial, scheduled for 28 October.
- Man, 39, charged with sexually assaulting woman, 22, on Ryanair flight
- Alleged assault occurred while victim was unconscious after fainting
- Suspect denies charges; trial set for 28 October
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Ryanair, the Irish budget airline, operates thousands of flights a year across Europe, including routes such as Malta to Nantes in France. Incidents on board its aircraft occasionally make headlines, particularly when they involve allegations of criminal behaviour towards passengers, as cabin crews have limited ability to intervene mid-flight and matters are usually only formally reported once the plane has landed.
This case centres on a young female passenger who says she was assaulted by the man seated next to her after she fainted during the flight. The person facing the allegations is a 39-year-old Tunisian man who has since been formally charged; he disputes the claims made against him. French police and prosecutors are involved because the flight landed in Nantes, meaning the case falls under French jurisdiction.
Cases of this kind often draw wider attention because they touch on questions of passenger safety and vulnerability in enclosed public spaces such as aircraft cabins, where victims may have little means of avoiding or reporting an assault until after landing. The matter is now proceeding through the French criminal justice system, with the accused subject to further assessment ahead of any trial.