Parents who put their young kids on flights by themselves need to read this story and beware.

A YOUNG girl flying alone was allegedly sexually assaulted by Muhammad Asif Chaudhry, a 57-year-old man who moved seats to be next to her.

The girl reportedly texted her mother saying she was woken up by a man inappropriately touching her with his foot and later his hand.

Lawyer Brett Beatty said the mother was so stunned by the message that she fainted.

The girl’s complaints were reported by the airline after the mother recovered and called the airline’s offices. An FBI agent met Chaudhry when the flight landed.

He was arrested in July after apparently “inappropriately touching” the girl, who is aged between 12 and 16.

The lawsuit, filed on Thursday, claims that Chaudhry moved to an open seat beside the alleged victim on the New York to Iowa flight.

The Pakistani citizen is set to appear in court in Chicago.

Now a lawyer for the girl’s family has said American Airlines should have placed the girl – who was flying alone – in a seat where she could be monitored.

Josh Freed, a spokesman for American Airlines, said: “American cares deeply about our young passengers and is committed to providing a safe travel experience for them.”

“We take these matters very seriously and have cooperated fully and immediately with law enforcement’s investigation of the suspect.”

Jummy Ariyo

September 2015

Source express.co.uk