Woman says Delta gave her a travel voucher after she was sexually assaulted in midair
A fashion brand founder who was allegedly sexually assaulted on a Delta Airlines flight says the crew neglected to properly assist her — and tossed her a travel voucher for her trouble.
“I’m finally able to speak about this story of how I woke up to being sexually assaulted on my @Delta flight home from Chicago to LA last month,” Los Angeles-based Delany Eva Luh tweeted Friday.
Luh wrote that on a June 16 flight from Chicago to Los Angeles, she was seated between two male strangers. At one point, she says, she fell asleep and awoke to find that her intoxicated seatmate was shoving his hands down her leggings.
On June 16th I was sexually assaulted on a @delta flight home from Chicago to LA. I was in the middle seat side by side by two men I did not know. I ended up falling asleep and woke up to a drunk man with his hands down my leggings. pic.twitter.com/9iS75rcdwI
— DelanyLuh (@DelanyLuh) July 20, 2018
“In a state of panic, I freaked out and begun crying to get the flight attendants attention,” she tweeted. “Once I calmed down, they changed my seat for the remainder of the 2 hours left and told me they would handle the situation when we landed.”
The woman was made to believe that once the plane had landed, she would be escorted off the flight and that the man, which she identifies as “Will,” would be arrested.
Unfortunately, this was not the case, and Luh learned that the man who she claims sexually assaulted her had left the airport.
Luh says Delta issued a $200 travel voucher to her, which didn’t even cover the cost of her flight. She also says that when Los Angeles police officers arrived, they told her that Delta had not followed protocol.
In a state of panic, I freaked out and begun crying to get the flight attendants attention. Once I calmed down, they changed my seat for the remainder of the 2 hours left and told me they would handle the situation when we landed.
— DelanyLuh (@DelanyLuh) July 20, 2018
In the end all @delta did was gave me a weak $200 voucher that didn’t even cover my flight cost to get to my destination. Police officers arrived on the scene where I told them what had happened and they explained that @delta did not follow the correct protocol for this incident. pic.twitter.com/vPsn5faS2i
— DelanyLuh (@DelanyLuh) July 20, 2018
The woman is encouraging others to stand up and speak up for themself if they are ever sexually assaulted. She believes that had she voiced her concerns more openly, then the situation would have ended differently.
She continued, “Don’t let society and fear keep you quiet. This behavior is not acceptable.” Luh hashtagged her message #MeToo.
By then, Will had already left the airport. Im telling you all this so if this were to ever happen to anyone else please stand up & USE YOUR VOICE. Had I put up more of a fight for myself Will would’ve probably not walked away a free man while I was left devastated that nothing-
— DelanyLuh (@DelanyLuh) July 20, 2018
could be done. Don’t let society and fear keep you quiet. This behavior is not acceptable @delta. I am getting the help I need to move on and I hope that if this has happened to you, you too will find the courage to speak up. #METOO
— DelanyLuh (@DelanyLuh) July 20, 2018
Luh and representatives from the Los Angeles Police Department did not return Yahoo Lifestyle’s request for comment.
A spokesperson from Delta provided the following statement to Yahoo Lifestyle: “The safety and security of our customers is our top priority and we do not tolerate the harassment or assault of any kind. After deplaning, Ms. Luh first informed a Delta agent that she had been improperly touched on the leg by another passenger during her flight. Immediately upon learning this information, Delta reported the incident to local and federal law enforcement for their handling. We will continue to cooperate fully with the FBI in their investigation of this situation. We also reached out to Ms. Luh for more information on this incident.”
On Saturday, the airline tweeted an apology and requested Luh send them a direct message in hopes to make the situation “right.”
Delta spokesman Trebor Banstetter also told local news station KTLA that the events Luh recounted were “unacceptable,” saying: “The incident was reported to local and federal law enforcement shortly after the aircraft landed. We have reached out to Ms. Luh for more information on this incident.”
Hello Delany, I am so sorry to hear of your experience. This behavior is absolutely unacceptable, and I want to sincerely apologize. If you can please DM me further details, I would like to see how we can make this right. *HES
— Delta (@Delta) July 20, 2018
According to recent statistics released by the FBI, reported cases of sexual assault on airplanes are on the rise. According to CNN, the FBI said that between 2014 and 2017, such incidents increased by 66 percent. Brian Nadeau, assistant special agent in the Baltimore FBI division, said that’s probably a conservative estimate, given that many victims don’t report their abuse.
“I’m shocked at the number of passengers who do not take that act and they’ll wait until the plane is on the ground,” agent David Rodski told CNN, adding that taking action “allows us to do the investigation, collect witnesses, get the flight crew for statements prior to everyone departing for their next destination.”
Agent Gary Loeffer also told Newsweek: “The attacks generally occur on long-haul flights when the cabin is dark. The victims are usually in the middle or window seats. The victims are usually sleeping and covered with a blanket or jacket.”
Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:
UC Berkeley coach is ‘appalled’ Southwest Airlines asked her to prove the identity of biracial son
American Airlines passenger faces up to 20 years in jail for in-flight tirade
Woman says American Airlines called police on her for ‘flying while fat and black’
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