A 40-year-old woman claims she was raped by a man in business class on a United Airlines flight from New York-Newark to London-Heathrow on January 31, 2022. Immediately after landing, the alleged sex offender was arrested by the British police.

The authorities only communicated the case today for tactical reasons. According to official information, other passengers who were questioned said that the two people had previously been seen together at the onboard bar. But nobody claims to have heard anything about the rape.

According to their own statements, the injured party turned to the cabin crew, who requested the executive, after the alleged incident. This entered the long-haul aircraft after landing and arrested the 40-year-old. The woman was asked for questioning and said, among other things, that the man had waited until the other Business Class passengers had slept soundly.

However, the matter also had consequences for United Airlines, because the police temporarily arrested the airliner. The background is that forensic evidence was sought in Business Class for any evidence. However, the executive did not say whether and what was found.

The alleged rapist had to give both fingerprints and a DNA sample, police said. After extensive interrogation, the man was released. The investigation is still ongoing, so it is not possible to say whether charges will be filed or not. In any case, the woman has filed a complaint and was also asked by the police to take part in a medical examination to determine whether there was a rape or not. The result was not communicated, but may become the most important piece of incriminating or exculpatory evidence.

The airline United Airlines did not want to comment in depth on the incident of January 31, 2022 and briefly referred to the responsibility of the British law enforcement authorities. In any case, the company and its crew would cooperate fully and comprehensively and thus contribute to the investigation.