United Airlines forced a sexual harassment victim back to her seat next to a masturbating man, then offered her $100

From the Newshound archive · first published 24 September 2026.

A 25-year-old pediatric crisis therapist says United Airlines crew forced her to return to her seat beside a man who had been masturbating and staring at her on a Rochester-to-Newark flight on September 3. After she reported the incident, staff allowed her to stand in the aisle — but ordered her back when the plane prepared to land, telling her there were no other seats and she would only have to sit there for 'three to five minutes'. The man walked off the plane unquestioned, and a gate agent responded to her concerns by asking 'What am I supposed to do about it?' United later offered her a $100 travel credit on a $400 trip.

She has since filed reports with the FAA, the FBI and United Airlines, none of which have confirmed any action against the man.

United called the ordeal 'behaviour from another passenger that caused you concern' — a description the passenger rejected as a gross understatement.

She has said: 'I just got the sense he had done it before — people don't just do those things at 6 a.m.'