Leah Melley says she reported the Sept. 22 encounter to the crew, but federal authorities have not publicly disclosed whether charges followed.
PITTSBURGH, PA — A Pittsburgh woman says a man seated beside her sexually assaulted her aboard a United Airlines flight to Chicago in September, an allegation she reported to the flight crew before law enforcement met the aircraft at O’Hare International Airport.
Leah Melley said she was traveling for work on Sept. 22 when the incident occurred about 30 minutes into the flight from Pittsburgh. She said she initially made casual conversation with the man in the neighboring seat before putting in her AirPods and turning toward the window. Melley said the man later began touching her arm and leg and exposed himself. No criminal charge against the man has been publicly confirmed.
Melley told Pittsburgh television stations that the passenger repeatedly raised the armrest between them after she lowered it and later positioned a blanket between the seats. She said she initially believed some contact could have been caused by the close seating but became alarmed when she realized the touching was intentional. Her account has not been independently established in court, and the man’s identity has not been publicly released.
Melley said she tried to leave her window seat and eventually woke another passenger in the row so she could get out. She went to the back of the plane and told a flight attendant what had happened. The crew moved her to another seat, according to Melley and United Airlines.
United said it takes the allegation seriously and confirmed that law enforcement met the aircraft after it arrived in Chicago. The airline said it spoke with Melley and apologized for her experience. United also said the other passenger had been banned from flying with the airline while the company’s investigation is pending.
Melley said she and other people connected to the flight provided statements after landing, including members of the flight crew and another passenger. She has said she wants to know what action, if any, authorities took against the man and whether prosecutors intend to pursue charges.
The Chicago Police Department referred questions about the matter to the FBI’s Chicago field office. The FBI has not publicly confirmed whether the man was arrested or whether a federal investigation remains active. The bureau told news organizations that Justice Department policy prevents it from commenting on the nature of investigations that may or may not be underway.
Melley said the lack of information in the weeks after the flight has left her frustrated. In an interview with WPXI, she asked whether authorities had arrested or charged the passenger and said she wanted some indication of what happened after the aircraft landed. CBS Pittsburgh reported that she also remained concerned about whether the man could have obtained personal information from material in her work bag.
The allegation comes amid other recent reports of sexual misconduct by passengers aboard United flights. In separate cases reported in September and October, women accused male seatmates of engaging in sexual acts during flights. Those cases involved different passengers and circumstances, and they do not establish what occurred on Melley’s flight.
As of Oct. 31, authorities have not publicly announced charges in connection with Melley’s allegation. United says the other passenger remains banned pending its investigation, while Melley continues to seek information from federal authorities about the status of the case.
Author note: Last updated Oct. 31, 2026.