Summary
- A Horizon Air flight attendant is alleging that the carrier neglected to protect her amid sexual assault incidents.
- Pilots reportedly harassed the flight attendant over a five-month period.
- The worker is on unpaid leave and is assessing other career options.
Horizon Air, the wholly-owned regional subsidiary of Alaska Airlines, is being sued by one of its flight attendants over claims of sexual assault from two pilots. The inflight worker reportedly alleged the incidents were repeated occurrences and happened when they were new to the job.
They first reported harassment concerns in December and then raised them again months later. The lawsuit reportedly claims Horizon “took no action” to protect the plaintiff.
Happening for five months
The development was first reported by The Oregonian last week. The flight attendant, identified as a woman named J.B., filed the suit on Monday, July 8th, seeking unspecified non-economic and punitive damages against Horizon. It alleges that the pilots “repeatedly and severely” harassed her from September 2023 through February of this year. One of the pilots, who is believed to be married, would text the flight attendant inappropriate sexually explicit messages while working a flight.
Photo: Joe Kunzler | Simple Flying
According to the suit, J.B. was lured into the hotel room of another pilot in Portland after working a flight together in February. The pilot then subjected her to kissing without consent and touching before she managed to escape from the room. After reporting the harassment allegation to Horizon’s human resources office in December, J.B. reported it again in February.
“She doesn’t feel safe working there anymore”
The suit accuses the carrier of implying that it was her fault that she encouraged the pilots’ poor behavior and refrained from changing her work assignments to avoid the pilots. In March, J.B. took a leave of absence and raised the concerns with the Portland Police Bureau. She also reportedly petitioned for a sexual abuse protective order (SAPO) against one of the pilots.

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The restraining order is Oregon law and is designed to protect victims of sexual harassment or abuse from someone who is not their family or household member. Similar to a restraining order to prevent abuse, an SAPO can protect victims of sexual assault, rape, and sodomy if they fear for their safety, according to WomensLaw.org.
No criminal charges have been filed against the pilots, and they remain flying for Horizon, according to the suit. The flight attendant’s lawyer, Michael Fuller, told The Oregonian that she remains on unpaid leave and is assessing working at a different employer.
“In light of Horizon Air’s mishandling of her reports of sexual assault, she doesn’t feel safe working there anymore, and she is still deciding on future career options.”
Four-hour flights on an Embraer E175
Simple Flying contacted Alaska for comment on Sunday, but a representative could not be immediately reached. Horizon operates a fleet of Embraer E175 regional jets. The planes accommodate 76 passengers, and each flight requires four crew members – two pilots and two flight attendants. It is unclear if J.B.’s incidents were connected or if the two alleged harassers know each other.
Photo: Joe Kunzler | Simple Flying
Many of Horizon’s flights are of shorter durations across the West Coast. However, the airline does fly several routes exceeding 1,400 miles. According to aviation analytics and data provider Cirium, its longest route is between Portland International Airport (PDX) and Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC), resulting in a flight time of nearly four hours.

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