Australia books Indian national for alleged sexual assault of woman seated next to him on flight

An Indian national was charged with the alleged sexual assault of a woman on a Perth-bound flight, Australian media reported on Wednesday.

The 52-year-old man, according to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the Western Australia Police, committed “non-consensual sexual acts” on a woman seated next to him on the flight on Monday, which was headed from Singapore to Perth, News.com.au reported.

According to the Australian Federal Police, the woman was moved to another seat after she complained to staff. At the same time, the suspect was monitored throughout the flight, the report said, adding that the staff also alerted the police.

The suspect was escorted off the plane upon landing at the Perth Airport. The 52-year-old man was charged with “one count of sexual intercourse without consent and three counts of an act of indecency without consent”, News.com.au reported.

The suspect has been remanded in custody ahead of a court appearance on Friday, the report said, adding that the incident was being investigated jointly with the AFP and Western Australia Police.

As per the report, AFP Acting Superintendent Peter Brindal said, “The federal police have zero tolerance for criminal behaviour on planes or within Australian airports”.

“Every passenger has the right to feel safe when travelling, especially when confined in an aircraft close to other passengers,” Brindal was quoted as saying.

“Anyone subjected to unwanted contact is encouraged to alert the authorities, be it airline staff, the AFP or airport security, as soon as it is safely possible to do so.

“No act of indecency on an aircraft or at an airport is appropriate, and any travellers who break the law will be dealt with swiftly,” the police officer asserted.

In October 2025, an Indian national was arrested and charged with an assault on a flight travelling from Chicago to Germany, for stabbing two teenagers with a metal fork.