FORT WORTH- A woman has filed a lawsuit against American Airlines (AA), claiming she was sexually assaulted mid-flight by a man with a known history of abuse. The incident took place aboard a red-eye flight from San Francisco (SFO) to Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) on April 24, 2024.
The plaintiff, Barbara Morgan, alleges that the airline knowingly allowed the accused, Cherian Abraham, to fly despite prior reports of sexual misconduct. She further claims American Airlines failed to intervene during the flight and ignored her post-flight complaints.
Photo: Cado PhotoAmerican Airlines Faces Lawsuit
On April 24, 2024, Barbara Morgan boarded an American Airlines (AA) red-eye flight from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) to celebrate her son’s new job and home.
Seated in a middle seat next to Cherian Abraham, Morgan alleges she endured sexual assault after the cabin lights dimmed.
According to the lawsuit filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of California, Morgan shouted “stop” twice, but no flight crew intervened.
Most passengers were asleep or wearing headphones, and the assault went unnoticed by others. The lawsuit claims American Airlines knew of a 2023 sexual assault allegation against Abraham but allowed him to fly, prioritizing profits over passenger safety.
After landing, Morgan immediately reported the incident to a gate agent, who allegedly questioned why she did not act during the flight, leaving her feeling dismissed and blamed.
The lawsuit accuses American Airlines of negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and fraudulent concealment for failing to act on prior warnings about Abraham.
It also charges Abraham with sexual battery, gender violence, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Morgan’s attorney, Patrick J. Driscoll, stated, “The FBI and passengers have repeatedly warned American Airlines about in-flight sexual assaults, but the airline ignored these alerts, leaving passengers vulnerable.”
The case underscores a broader issue, referencing two other lawsuits against American Airlines involving alleged failures to prevent sexual abuse on flights.
Photo: Tim | FlickrAirline Response
After the incident, Morgan faced further challenges with American Airlines’ (AA) response. She reported the assault to a gate agent at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), who advised her to file an online complaint.
Morgan submitted a complaint on April 24, 2024, receiving only a generic automated response promising follow-up, which never occurred.
On April 30, 2024, she escalated her concerns by contacting the Director of Customer Relations, Vice President of Reservations and Service Recovery, and CEO Robert Isom.
Again, she received an automated reply with no meaningful engagement. In May 2024, an American Airlines representative called Morgan but allegedly blamed her for not reporting the assault mid-flight, intensifying her trauma.
The lawsuit claims this pattern of dismissive responses reflects a “culture of indifference” at American Airlines.
Morgan only learned of Abraham’s prior allegations when the FBI contacted her, revealing his March 2025 federal charge for abusive sexual contact on another American Airlines flight from Chicago to Seattle.
Court records indicate Abraham was accused of similar misconduct in October 2023 and April 2024, including Morgan’s case.
The FBI’s investigation confirmed American Airlines had been notified of the 2023 incident but failed to ban Abraham from flying until after his March 2025 arrest.
American Airlines issued a statement, “The safety of our customers and team members is our highest priority. We take this matter very seriously and are working closely with law enforcement.” Abraham has been banned from flying with the airline.
Photo: Cado HandersonLegal Claims and Public Statements
The lawsuit, filed jointly against American Airlines and Cherian Abraham, seeks damages and accountability. Abraham is accused of:
- Sexual battery
- Gender violence
- Intentional infliction of emotional distress
Attorney Patrick J. Driscoll of Romanucci & Blandin stated:
“American Airlines must stop ignoring the alarm bells and take immediate, decisive action to protect its passengers like Barbara Morgan.”
Driscoll criticized the airline’s systemic inaction, adding that this is not just a policy failure but a breach of basic duty of care at cruising altitudes.
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