A 20-year-old Indian man has been formally charged with molesting a female crew member aboard a Singapore Airlines flight from Australia. The accused, identified only as Rajat, allegedly committed the offence on 28 February during the international flight.
According to the Singapore Police Force, the incident occurred when the 28-year-old flight attendant was escorting a female passenger to the lavatory. Upon noticing a piece of tissue on the floor, she bent down to pick it up. It was at this moment that Rajat reportedly approached her from behind, grabbed her, and forcibly pushed her into the lavatory.
The situation was quickly diffused after the female passenger being escorted witnessed the assault and intervened, helping the crew member out of the lavatory. The cabin supervisor was immediately informed, and Rajat was arrested upon arrival at Singapore’s Changi Airport.
In court on Tuesday, Rajat indicated his intention to plead guilty to the charge of "outraging the modesty"—a serious criminal offence under Singaporean law, which encompasses acts of sexual harassment or assault that do not amount to rape. If convicted, he could face up to three years of imprisonment, a fine, caning, or any combination of these penalties.
“We take such incidents seriously as cabin crew are trained professionals dedicated to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all passengers,” said Assistant Commissioner M Malathi, commander of the Airport Police Division. “The police remain committed to protecting airline staff and passengers from any form of sexual harassment or assault.”
This marks the second such case involving an Indian national in recent weeks. Earlier in April, 73-year-old Balasubramanian Ramesh was sentenced to nine months in jail after he admitted to molesting four Singapore Airlines stewardesses on a November 2024 flight from San Francisco. Due to his age, Ramesh was exempted from caning under Singaporean law, which prohibits corporal punishment for individuals over 50.
Singapore Airlines has yet to issue a public statement on the recent incident but is expected to review its onboard safety protocols to further safeguard crew members and passengers.
