An Oregon woman has filed a negligence lawsuit against American Airlines, SkyWest Airlines, and an individual passenger, alleging that failures in airline safety protocols led to her being sexually assaulted during a commercial flight. The incident is said to have occurred on December 10, 2024, during a flight from Missouri to Portland, Oregon, with a stopover in Dallas. According to the lawsuit, the woman was assaulted during the plane’s takeoff by a man she says was visibly intoxicated and should never have been allowed to board the aircraft.
The case raises serious questions about airline responsibility, the handling of intoxicated passengers, and how in-flight sexual assault complaints are addressed in real time. The plaintiff’s account, detailed in court filings and first reported by The Oregonian, describes a series of events that began well before boarding and escalated into what she describes as a traumatic assault at 30,000 feet.
The lawsuit asserts that warning signs were present, staff intervention was insufficient, and procedural rigidity prevented an immediate response when the assault occurred. American Airlines has acknowledged the lawsuit and stated that it is reviewing the complaint, emphasizing that passenger and crew safety is its highest priority. As the case moves forward, it is likely to draw renewed scrutiny to airline policies governing intoxicated passengers and in-flight safety responses.
Events Leading Up to the Alleged Assault
According to the lawsuit, the plaintiff encountered the man later identified as Justin Eldon Knotts, 40, while waiting for her flight at a small Missouri airport. She claims she observed him drinking heavily at an airport bar, where he allegedly consumed multiple beers and shots of liquor. During this time, she says he directed unsolicited comments toward her, calling her “sexy” and “beautiful.” The attention reportedly made her uncomfortable enough that she chose to leave the bar area altogether.
The filing states that despite distancing herself, she later saw the same man stumbling toward the departure gate. Her lawsuit alleges that his level of intoxication was apparent, including the smell of alcohol, and should have raised concerns among airline staff responsible for boarding procedures. Federal aviation regulations allow airlines to deny boarding to passengers who appear intoxicated, but the plaintiff claims no such action was taken in this case.
Once on board the aircraft, Justin Eldon Knotts allegedly took the seat next to the plaintiff and made a comment that immediately alarmed her, reportedly saying, “This is my lucky day.” According to the lawsuit, his behavior quickly escalated from verbal remarks to physical contact. She claims he began invading her personal space, bumping and rubbing against her as the plane prepared for takeoff.
Read : American Airlines Passenger Duct-Taped and Sued in 2024 for Violent Behavior Onboard in 2021 Flight
As the aircraft began its ascent, the plaintiff alleges the man started groping her. She says she attempted to push his hands away and repeatedly told him to stop, but he continued. The lawsuit describes the assault as occurring during a moment when passengers are required to remain seated with seatbelts fastened, limiting her ability to physically escape or move away. The filing emphasizes that the assault did not happen in isolation or without warning. It portrays a scenario in which earlier indicators of inappropriate and intoxicated behavior were allegedly overlooked, ultimately placing the plaintiff in a vulnerable and confined situation.
In-Flight Response and Crew Actions
A central issue in the lawsuit is how flight crew members responded once the plaintiff attempted to report what was happening. According to her account, she alerted a flight attendant during takeoff and requested to be moved to another seat. The lawsuit claims her request was initially denied due to standard safety procedures that prohibit passengers from changing seats during takeoff.
The plaintiff alleges that she tried to explain the urgency of the situation, telling the flight attendant words to the effect of, “This man is completely on top of me, and I need to move now.” Despite this, she says the response was delayed, prolonging her exposure to the alleged assault. Eventually, the flight attendant did relocate her to another seat once it was deemed permissible. The lawsuit does not allege that the crew ignored her complaint entirely, but it argues that the delay was unreasonable given the circumstances and compounded the harm she experienced.
Further complicating matters, a flight attendant later told police that she personally witnessed Justin Eldon Knotts groping the plaintiff. That same attendant also reported being touched by Knotts herself while serving beverages. According to the lawsuit, the attendant said his hand brushed against her thigh, grabbed her wrist, and smacked her on the buttocks with enough force to cause pain. The captain of the flight reportedly documented the alleged assault during the journey and notified authorities ahead of landing.
When the plane arrived at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, Dallas police officers boarded the aircraft. The plaintiff was allowed to disembark first to provide her statement, followed by Justin Eldon Knotts, who also spoke with officers. The lawsuit argues that while the eventual involvement of law enforcement was appropriate, the measures taken mid-flight were insufficient and reactive rather than preventative. It alleges that airline staff failed both in stopping an intoxicated passenger from boarding and in responding swiftly when an assault was reported.
Legal Claims, Police Investigation, and Broader Implications
The plaintiff’s lawsuit names American Airlines, SkyWest Airlines, and Justin Eldon Knotts as defendants. SkyWest operates certain regional flights on behalf of American Airlines, a fact that often complicates questions of liability and operational responsibility. The negligence claims assert that the airlines failed in their duty of care by allowing an allegedly intoxicated and disruptive passenger to board and remain seated next to another passenger.
According to the lawsuit, Dallas police informed the plaintiff that they were seeking a warrant for Knotts’ arrest on a misdemeanor assault charge. As of the most recent reports, no formal charges have been filed. Justin Eldon Knotts has been identified by both police and in the lawsuit, but he has not publicly commented on the allegations.
The plaintiff also alleges that the incident had immediate and tangible consequences beyond the assault itself. Because of the police investigation and disruption following the landing in Dallas, she missed her connecting flight to Portland and was forced to spend the night in the city. She ultimately returned home the following day. American Airlines provided a brief statement to The Oregonian, saying, “The safety of our customers and team members is our highest priority. We are reviewing the complaint.” The Independent has also requested comment from the defendants named in the lawsuit.
Beyond the specifics of this case, the lawsuit highlights broader concerns about how airlines handle reports of sexual assault, particularly during critical phases of flight when standard safety rules limit passenger movement. Advocacy groups have long argued that in-flight sexual assaults are underreported and inadequately addressed, in part because of the confined environment and uncertainty among passengers about how to seek help.
The case may prompt renewed examination of training protocols for airline staff, especially regarding intoxicated passengers and emergency responses that fall outside conventional safety scenarios. It also raises questions about whether existing procedures allow enough flexibility to prioritize passenger safety when immediate harm is reported.
As the lawsuit proceeds, it is likely to attract attention from regulators, industry observers, and passenger safety advocates. The outcome could influence future airline policies, crew training standards, and how carriers balance rigid safety rules with the need for swift intervention when a passenger reports sexual assault mid-flight.
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