Sexual assaults on airplanes are on the rise, CBS News investigation finds

A CBS News investigation revealed that sexual assaults on airplanes are significantly increasing, with the FBI investigating more than 170 cases of passengers assaulting other passengers on commercial flights throughout 2024. The disturbing trend represents a notable rise from previous years, highlighting growing safety concerns within the aviation industry. According to the report, these incidents typically occur during flights when passengers are in close proximity with limited escape routes, creating vulnerable situations that perpetrators exploit. The investigation found that flight attendants and airline crew are often the first responders in such cases, though training protocols for handling sexual assault emergencies vary significantly across different carriers. Transportation security experts interviewed by CBS News emphasized the need for standardized reporting procedures and enhanced crew training to address this growing public safety issue.