What to Know
- A woman on a Southwest Airlines flight says the man sitting next to her groped her inappropriately during a flight from Houston to Nashville
- Alfredo Vela, 30, was arrested when the plane landed and faces a charge of sexual battery, according to police.
- Southwest Airlines says airline staff are trained to handle these situations and they have a zero tolerance policy.
A Texas man was arrested Sunday night for allegedly groping a female passenger sitting next to him on a Southwest Airlines flight to Nashville, according to court documents.
The female passenger told police that she had a brief conversation with Alfredo Vela IV, whom she did not know, before falling asleep during the flight from Houston.
She later awoke to find Vela rubbing her back with his hand and told police Vela also touched her inner thigh, her breast and attempted to put his hand up her shirt.
The woman told police that she “froze in fear” during the event and alerted the flight crew soon after.
Vela was arrested shortly after the plane landed in Nashville. Police said the man admitted to scratching the woman's back but declined to continue talking with officers after his arrest.
Vela posted bail; it's unclear if he's obtained a lawyer to comment on his behalf.
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