Barbara Morgan, a woman who claims to have been sexually assaulted during a flight from San Francisco to Dallas in April 2024, is suing American Airlines for negligence. The lawsuit, filed this week, alleges that the airline knowingly allowed Cherian Abraham, a Texas resident with multiple prior complaints of sexual misconduct on flights, to board the flight without informing Morgan or other passengers about his history.
According to Morgan, Abraham repeatedly touched her during the overnight flight in a darkened cabin, despite her vocal attempts to stop him. Morgan claims the flight crew did nothing to intervene. After the incident, when she reported the assault to a gate agent, she was met with a dismissive response, with staff advising her to file an online complaint.
The lawsuit argues that American Airlines should have prevented Abraham from boarding the flight due to his documented history of inappropriate behavior. Despite multiple follow-up attempts from Morgan, including emails to top airline executives, the airline allegedly offered only a form-letter response, blaming her for not taking action during the flight.
Abraham was arrested in March 2025 after allegedly groping another woman on a separate American Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Chicago. The new case referenced Morgan’s ordeal and other alleged assaults. Federal investigators are now examining Abraham’s pattern of predatory behavior.
Only after his March 2025 arrest did American Airlines ban Abraham from flying. The airline stated that the safety of its customers is a top priority and that it is cooperating with law enforcement in the investigation.
Abraham has pleaded not guilty to the charges, claiming any physical contact was accidental. Morgan, however, believes the airline failed to take appropriate action and allowed a known predator to remain onboard, furthering her belief in a systemic failure to protect passengers.
Source: Swifteradio.com
