Airline passenger is charged after allegedly indecently touching sleeping woman on flight from LA to Australia
The Sydney man, 36, allegedly touched another passenger inappropriately while she tried to sleep during a flight from Los Angeles on May 29.
She was allegedly touched on the thigh and buttock after he moved seats to sit in the same row as her.
The man did not know the woman and when crew members became aware of the alleged incident, they moved her to a different section of the aircraft for the remainder of the flight.
When the plane landed, Australian Federal Police officers interviewed the man and alleged witnesses.
The 36-year-old was issued with a court attendance notice for one count of act of indecency without consent.
This offence carries a maximum penalty of seven years in prison.
AFP Detective Inspector Dom Stephenson said any allegations of inappropriate or criminal behaviour on land or in the air would be taken seriously and investigated.
'No one on an aircraft should feel unsafe because of the behaviour of other travellers and if someone has committed an offence, the AFP will take action,' Det Insp Stephenson said.
The accused man appeared in Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday.
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