Duane Brick, 53, a former Delta Air Lines employee, has pleaded guilty.

A Delta Air Lines woman claims she was sexually assaulted by one of the company’s mechanics during a flight. According to a press release from Mark Lindquist Law, which represents the victim, the victim had attended a Taylor Swift concert in Phoenix, Arizona, and was on the flight. On the way back to Seattle, Washington, he was allegedly attacked on the plane.

Former Delta Air Lines employee Duane Brick, 53, pleaded guilty to abusive sexual contact, admitting to molesting a woman who was sleeping next to him on a 2023 flight.

The report by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington revealed disturbing details of Mr. Brick’s inappropriate behavior, including placing the victim’s hands on his crotch and touching her breasts while she slept. During the flight, the victim reportedly smelled alcohol on his breath before falling asleep, only to wake up to the disturbing violation.

He “reached under the woman’s shirt and touched her breasts. He admitted that he did so for sexual gratification,” the attorney’s office said in a statement. “After the victim woke up and realized he had been sexually assaulted, Mr Bricker went to the toilet. He was visibly drunk and left the empty aviation alcohol bottle behind.”

Victims and witnesses immediately reported the attack to flight attendants, but it was not until 15 minutes later that crew took action to move Mr Brick to another seat. He now faces up to two years in prison.

The victim accused Delta and Mr. Bricker of gross neglect, assault and battery. “As a public airline, Delta Air Lines has the highest duty of care and a legal obligation to provide airline passengers, including plaintiffs, with a safe flight from unauthorized access by other passengers, including from other passengers,” the lawsuit states. and abusive sexual contact. Delta’s own employees.” They allege that the airline “provided Mr. Bricker with excessive amounts of alcohol, failed to adequately train employees on how to prevent and address sexual assault, and failed to adequately train employees on how to prevent and address sexual assault. Ability to appropriately monitor the cabin and protect passengers.”

“Everyone should be able to sleep safely on an airplane without the risk of being molested and sexually assaulted,” the lawyer said. “Airlines can and should do more to stop these serious violations.”

“Delta will decline to comment on pending litigation,” a Delta representative said in a statement to Newsweek. “Delta has zero tolerance for illegal conduct and will work with law enforcement to this end.” Institutional collaboration.”