SEOUL, Sept. 11 (Yonhap) — A flight attendant of Asiana Airlines Inc. was recently assaulted by a passenger on an aircraft while the plane was preparing to takeoff for the United States, according to industry sources Wednesday.
According to the sources, the incident occurred at around 9 p.m. last Thursday aboard flight OZ204 headed for Los Angeles from Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul.
At that time, the aircraft was reportedly close to takeoff, and passenger movement was restricted. The incident occurred when the assailant’s companion got up to head toward the restroom and the flight attendant attempted to stop them.
The incident was purportedly reported to the cabin manager immediately. However, instead of returning the plane to the gate or reporting the assailant to the police, the flight continued as scheduled.
This photo provided by Asiana Airlines shows a company aircraft. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Even after completing the 11-hour flight, there was reportedly no report made to local police.
Asiana Airlines stated that after arriving in Los Angeles, both the victim and the cabin manager were excused from additional duties and sent back to South Korea.
The airline said it is closely monitoring the victim’s condition and is investigating the incident to determine whether to pursue legal action.
The incident came to light after an employee expressed dissatisfaction with the cabin manager’s handling of the situation on Blind, an anonymous online platform for workers.
“We are thoroughly investigating this matter and will take appropriate action based on the results of the investigation,” a company official said.
odissy@yna.co.kr
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