Man Accused For Masturbating & Groping Passenger On American Airlines Flight; Says, “Was Just Stretching”

A 56-year-old man from Texas has been charged with abusive sexual contact after allegedly masturbating openly and even groping a fellow passenger on an American Airlines flight from Boston to Washington, D.C. The man has denied the allegations and told the authorities that he had only been “stretching his arms” onboard.

American Airlines Passenger Accused For Masturbating On Flight

According to The Independent, aerospace executive Darrell Ray Seale, 56, has been accused of masturbating and groping the man beside him on an American Airlines flight. Darrell repeatedly touched his seatmate’s crotch and leg despite being told to stop.

As per the affidavit obtained by The Independent, Darrell boarded American Airlines flight 4349 at Boston Logan International Airport on June 6. He was seated by the window and once the flight was in the air, he “masturbating through his shorts, rubbing his penis.”

His fellow passenger was shocked and uncomfortable with the situation but it took a turn for the worse when Darrell lowered the tray of the seat and touched the seatmate’s crotch and leg. A passenger sitting across the aisle from Darrell saw him inappropriately touch the man as well. He further added that the seatmate also tried to stop Darrell from touching him.

At first, Darrell briefly moved his hand away but soon resumed his lewd behaviour, according to the affidavit. This led a passenger seated across the aisle to step in by typing “Are you OK?” on their phone and showing it to Seale’s seatmate, who responded by shaking his head “no.”

When the accused got up to use the restroom, the uncomfortable man informed an American Airlines flight attendant about the incident. The attendant promptly changed his seat for the remainder of the flight.

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Denies All Charges Of Sexual Misconduct

Once the flight landed in Washington D.C., airport police escorted Darrell off the American Airlines plane. Officers called in the FBI, and agents arrived to question the suspect. While he acknowledged sitting next to the man, he denied the allegations, telling authorities he had only been “stretching his arms.”

He admitted to “possibly making contact with him while stretching his arms,” but denied ever touching him in a sexual way. He also denied allegations of masturbating in the American Airlines flight. Darrell was released Tuesday on a personal recognisance bond following his June 8 arrest.

Also Read: US Woman Sues American Airlines After Man Allegedly Sexually Assaulted Her On Flight; Blames Airline For Not Ensuring Passenger Safety

This incident is deeply troubling. In 2024, the FBI—which handles crimes that occur during flights—investigated 104 cases involving allegations of sexual assault on board aircraft. Officials believe the real number may be significantly higher, as many incidents likely go unreported.

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