The nature and extent of sexual assault in the sky: Shining a light on a ‘black box’
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/02697580221079996 |
| Published date | 01 January 2023 |
| Date | 01 January 2023 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
https://doi.org/10.1177/02697580221079996
International Review of Victimology
2023, Vol. 29(1) 128 –145
© The Author(s) 2022
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DOI: 10.1177/02697580221079996
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The nature and extent of
sexual assault in the sky:
Shining a light on a ‘black box’
Christina Mancini
Virginia Commonwealth University, USA
Kristen M Budd
Miami University, USA
Bailey M Brown
Miami University, USA
Sami Hausserman
Case Western Reserve University, USA
Sydney Smith
REAL LIFE, USA
Abstract
Strikingly, federal data sources tracking the nature and extent of sexual assaults that occur aboard
airlines are incomplete and typically not released to the public. In order to better understand
this relatively hidden social phenomenon, we conducted a content analysis of media reports
published over approximately a 20-year period (2000–2020). Within these media reports, we
analyzed the incident characteristics of in-flight sexual assaults, reporting behaviors of victims,
airline responses to victimization, and criminal justice processes such as adjudication. Findings
reveal certain patterns in the coverage concerning victim and perpetrator characteristics, offense
characteristics, flight information, and post-offense outcomes. In synthesizing study results,
we apply tenets of routine activities theory (RAT) and the #MeToo perspective. We outline
implications for future study and policy.
Corresponding author:
Christina Mancini, L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, Virginia Commonwealth University,
1003 West Franklin Street, Richmond, VA 23284, USA.
Email: cnmancini@vcu.edu
1079996IRV0010.1177/02697580221079996International Review of VictimologyMancini et al.
research-article2022
Article
Mancini et al. 129
Keywords
Sex crime, #MeToo, content analysis, media, travel
Introduction
In the last decade, the media have reported on disturbing incidents of sex crimes occurring on com-
mercial airlines. Randi Zuckerberg, a former executive at Facebook and sister of co-founder, Mark
Zuckerberg, publicly shared in 2017 that she was a victim of sexual harassment while traveling on
an Alaska Airlines flight. Upon notifying staff of the incident, she alleges that little action was
taken and that she was told the perpetrator, a frequent flier, was ‘known to act that way’ (Gates,
2017). In 2020, Elizabeth Smart, who endured abuse for over a year when she was kidnapped in
2002, disclosed she was also a victim of a sexual assault while aboard a Delta flight (Thebault,
2020). A series of other cases have been reported by the media (Mele, 2019). However, it is nearly
impossible to access specific information about these cases as the Federal Bureau of Investigation
(FBI) have denied reporters’ Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests for data regarding sex-
ual assaults reported on planes (Johnson, 2020).
While the Department of Transportation (DOT) maintains a count of complaints, it only began
doing so in 2016. Since that time, it has received 43 complaints of sexual misconduct on flights.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) maintains a database documenting general miscon-
duct, but it does not disaggregate by type of offense, precluding a count or description of sexually
related offenses (National In-Flight Sexual Misconduct Task Force, 2020). FBI statistics concern-
ing reports of aircraft assault are also limited. In 2014, 38 cases were reported and were being
actively investigated. In 2020, that number increased to 119 incidents (National In-Flight Sexual
Misconduct Task Force, 2020).
Across nearly all of the coverage, two themes emerge: (a) sexual victimization in airplanes dur-
ing flight does happen yet remains a relatively hidden social problem and (b) the tracking and
investigation of such sex offenses are lacking. Perhaps for these reasons, in 2018, the US Congress
commissioned a team of experts to study the issue. The National In-Flight Sexual Misconduct Task
Force (2020) noted that indeed, tracking is inconsistent, data have not been made publicly availa-
ble, and confusion exists concerning reporting options. Hence, studying sex crimes that occur
within airplanes is particularly challenging.
Understanding the contexts in which the commission of sexual assaults on airplanes occurs is
important yet understudied. Such assaults highlight the intersection between public safety and
freedom of movement without fear of or concern about sexual victimization (Walklate, 2014).
COVID-19 impacts notwithstanding (Iacus et al., 2020), national and international airlines serving
the United States carry over one billion passengers annually (National In-Flight Sexual Misconduct
Task Force, 2020). While the federal government and states have enacted many reforms to address
sexual victimization (Levenson, 2016), the emphasis on sexual assaults that occur on planes has
been noticeably absent. This is particularly troubling given the sheer number of passengers who fly
annually. Without research on this particular phenomenon, law and policy responses to this social
problem are unlikely to be effective.
For these reasons, this study uses a content analysis to analyze news stories published from
approximately 2000 to 2020 that reported on sex crimes occurring on planes. We contextualize our
findings by applying two theoretical approaches: routine activities theory (RAT; Cohen and Felson,
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