In a shocking incident, a woman is filing a lawsuit against Delta Air Lines after being sexually assaulted on a flight last year. The victim was flying from Phoenix to Seattle after attending a Taylor Swift concert when the assault took place. The lawsuit has been filed in King County, Washington, targeting both Delta Air Lines and the perpetrator, who was a Delta mechanic at the time.

The perpetrator, identified as Duane Brick, pleaded guilty to abusive sexual contact earlier this year. He admitted to inappropriately touching the victim during the flight, including placing her hand on his crotch and groping her breast while she appeared to be asleep. Brick faces a potential sentence of up to two years in prison for his actions.

According to the lawsuit, Delta Air Lines, as a common carrier, is being held responsible for failing to provide a safe environment free from unauthorized and abusive sexual conduct. The legal action alleges that Delta's flight crew overserved alcohol to Brick, inadequately trained their employees to prevent and address sexual assaults, and failed to properly monitor the aircraft's cabin to protect passengers.

Reportedly, the victim and a witness reported the assault to the flight staff. However, Brick was allowed to remain in his seat for another 15 minutes before any action was taken. The victim's attorney, Mark Lindquist, expressed concern over the incident, stating, "Everyone should feel safe to fall asleep on a plane without the risk of being groped and sexually assaulted."

Business Insider has reached out to Delta Air Lines for comment on the matter. This is not the first time the airline is facing legal scrutiny for sexual assault incidents. In another lawsuit, the family of a 13-year-old girl who was sexually assaulted on a flight has accused Delta of enabling the assault by allowing the visibly intoxicated offender to board and serving him alcohol.

Delta Air Lines has responded to the allegations, stating that they have zero tolerance for unlawful behavior on flights and in airports. However, they declined to provide further comments on the pending litigation.

Unfortunately, sexual assaults on aircraft are not limited to these incidents alone. The US Attorney's Office for the Western District of Washington has highlighted two other troubling cases. A 38-year-old Indian citizen was charged with abusive sexual contact for assaulting a teenager during an Emirates flight to Seattle. In another case, a 69-year-old man pleaded guilty to simple assault for his inappropriate behavior towards a 15-year-old on a flight from Atlanta to Seattle.

These incidents paint a disturbing picture, and the FBI has noted an alarming increase in sexual assault cases on airplanes. In the first half of 2023 alone, the FBI reported 62 ongoing investigations, compared to 27 cases for the entire year of 2018.

The rise in such incidents calls for heightened efforts from airlines and authorities to ensure the safety and well-being of passengers during their journeys. Airline companies must adequately train their employees and implement strict protocols to prevent and address such misconduct, keeping their passengers protected from any form of harm.