An n airline passenger has been banned from flying with Qantas for seven years after a woman seated beside him claimed he inappropriately touched her.
The 64-year-old man, who has not been named, was blacklisted by the airline after the alleged incident on a flight between London and Singapore on November 3 last year, which he said was done before he was able to give his version of events.
It is understood police in Singapore, where the plane touched down, were contacted by the flight crew and conducted inquiries regarding an ‘outrage of modesty’ offence. The ban was issued before police had completed their inquiries.
The 64-year-old is not allowed to fly with any airline in the Qantas Group or Jetstar Group, on any code-share flights operated by partner airlines, as well as from buying any flight on a Qantas-issued ticket or entering the Qantas lounge.
‘No information (regarding the allegations) was given to me at all,’ he told The Sydney Morning Herald.
‘I was in tears for the first few days. I’m beside myself even still.’
The male passenger has been banned from flying with the airline or any flights operated in partnership with the airline until 2030
In a letter appealing the ban, the man claimed he was never warned the woman felt uncomfortable and only suspected there was an issue when she left and did not return to her seat.
He claimed he asked a flight attendant if there was a problem and was told loudly: ‘You encroached on the lady’s space and what you did was wrong’.
The man said in the letter there was some small-talk between himself and the woman as the plane was leaving London airport about topics such as what movies where showing on the plane and the recent referendum.
She was in a centre seat, with her husband in the same seat the row behind her, and the man was in the window seat.
He said she did not ask him to switch seats with her husband and that he fell asleep about an hour into the flight and woke up to find the woman gone.
Another woman on the aisle seat in their row moved seats shortly after and two flight attendants occupied the seats until the plane landed in Singapore where they escorted him off the plane.
Singapore Police were contacted and investigated the alleged incident, interviewing the man at the airport and holding his passport.
After five days police told him their investigations were completed and he was given a warning along with a letter clearing him to leave the country and return to .
Once back, the man appealed the ban in writing to Qantas claiming the airline ‘humiliated’ him and that airline staff did not apply ‘due diligence’ by asking him for his side of the events.
It is understood an internal panel of Qantas staff assess such appeals using statements from witnesses including flight crew and other passengers.
The alleged incident happened on a November 7 flight from London’s Heathrow (pictured) to Singapore’s Changi airport
Qantas on Thursday dismissed the appeal.
The airline said the allegations against the man included that he touched the woman on the inner thigh and also between her arm and breast as the plane took off.
Once she moved seats, he is then alleged to have shifted to the centre seat, made ‘unwarranted conversation’ with the woman in the aisle seat and then ordered drinks on her behalf even though she told him she wanted to go to sleep.
The man denies he switched seats and said he only touched the first woman on the knee to get her attention and ask her to wake him when meals arrived.
A representative authorised to speak for the man alleged that: ‘Officials in Singapore told us women have been claiming ”unwanted sexual contact” to get upgraded on long haul flights.’
It is understood no-fly bans are extremely rare and most airlines reserve the right to refuse service at their discretion.
The airline said in a statement: ‘The safety of our customers and crew is our number one priority and we do not tolerate any kind of inappropriate or abusive behaviour.’
The ban will be lifted in November 2030.