Federal prosecutors have indicted 27-year-old Trayton Ballot for the alleged sexual assault of a 17-year-old girl during a red-eye flight from Anchorage to Seattle. The incident, which took place in January, involved Ballot repeatedly touching the victim's inner thigh while she was asleep, despite her efforts to create a barrier and prevent the contact. The teenager was flying with her mother and a friend, and after alerting her mother, flight attendants intervened and moved her to a different seat. This case is part of a disturbing trend, with federal prosecutors reporting a significant rise in sexual misconduct cases on airplanes, attributed to victims feeling more empowered to report their experiences. The FBI noted a 60% increase in investigations of in-flight sexual misconduct from 2019 to 2023, with many incidents involving sleeping passengers and alcohol.

Assistant U. S. Attorney Carolyn Forstein stressed the importance of prosecuting these cases and raising public awareness about the issue. The implications of this case highlight the urgent need for protective measures for vulnerable passengers, especially minors, during flights. Ballot is currently out of custody, with his trial set to begin on April 7.