An Oregon woman who says she was sexually assaulted by a fellow passenger during an American Airlines flight is now suing the airline, alleging it negligently allowed an intoxicated man to board and sit next to her despite warning signs he posed a danger.

According to a negligence lawsuit filed this week, the woman was traveling from Missouri to Portland on Dec. 10, 2024, when she encountered the man at a small airport bar while waiting for her flight. The man, later identified by police as 40-year-old Justin Eldon Knotts, allegedly consumed multiple beers and shots of liquor while at the bar, The Oregonian reported.

The lawsuit states that Knotts directed unwanted attention toward the woman, calling her “sexy” and “beautiful.” She said the comments made her uncomfortable, prompting her to leave the bar. Later, she claims, she saw the man “stumbling out” toward the gate where she was waiting to board.

Despite allegedly smelling of alcohol, airline staff allowed Knotts onto the plane, according to the complaint. When he boarded, he sat next to the woman and reportedly said, “This is my lucky day.”

Once seated, the woman alleges Knotts began bumping into her, rubbing against her, and invading her personal space. As the plane began its takeoff, she says the behavior escalated into groping. The woman said she tried to push his hands away and repeatedly told him to stop, but the assault continued.

In the lawsuit, the woman recalls urgently asking a flight attendant to move her to another seat as the plane was taking off. She says she was initially denied because passengers were not allowed to move during takeoff, despite her warning that the situation was dangerous.

“This man is completely on top of me, and I need to move now,” she recalls telling the flight attendant.

The flight attendant eventually relocated the woman to another seat. The flight’s captain reported the incident while the plane was still in the air, according to the lawsuit. When the flight landed at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, Dallas police officers boarded the plane and detained Knotts.

The woman was allowed to exit the aircraft first and give a statement to police. Knotts also provided a statement. According to the lawsuit, a flight attendant told police she witnessed Knotts groping the woman during the flight.

That same flight attendant also reported that Knotts groped her while she was serving beverages. She told police that his hand brushed against her thigh, grabbed her wrist, and smacked her buttocks with enough force to cause pain, according to the filing.

As a result of the incident, the woman missed her connecting flight to Portland and was forced to spend the night in Dallas. She flew home the following day.

Dallas police reportedly told the woman they were seeking a warrant for Knotts’ arrest on a misdemeanor assault charge. As of Wednesday, no charges had been filed, The Oregonian reported.

The lawsuit names American Airlines, SkyWest, and Knotts as defendants, alleging failures in passenger safety and oversight. The Independent has requested comment from all parties named in the suit.

American Airlines said in a statement to The Oregonian, “The safety of our customers and team members is our highest priority. We are reviewing the complaint.”