Lawsuit: United Airlines failed to protect teen on flight from Seattle

SEATTLE — A lawsuit claims United Airlines failed to take appropriate action when a 16-year-old girl called for help after she was sexually assaulted on a flight from Seattle to Newark, New Jersey.

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports the lawsuit filed in Washington state last week claims flight staff only moved the teen a few rows ahead and allowed the man walk off the flight.

Vijaykumar Krishnappa received a 90-day sentence last year after pleading guilty to the assault.

Prosecutors said the physician intentionally touched the teen near her groin without her consent as she was sitting next to him on the July 2017 flight.

United said in a statement that the airline cooperated with the criminal investigation and let the victim change seats.