United Airlines tells teen who claims her breasts were groped on a flight she had ‘extremely short shorts’

IT WAS the stunning rebuke from a major airline that left a teenage girl in shock after she claimed she was sexually ­assaulted on an international flight.

Chelsea Schiffel said she was groped by an elderly man sitting next to her on a United Airlines flight from LA to Sydney in July, 2014, when she was just 15 years old.

Instead of offering her support, Chelsea said the airline questioned her story and criticised her choice of clothing saying she “wore ­extremely short shorts”.

Chelsea alleged the assault occurred when her mother got up to speak to another family member towards the rear of plane and the man next to her offered his shoulder to rest her tired head on.

A short time later the man allegedly touched her breasts twice, at which point Chelsea got up and told her mother.

Narelle Schiffel, 42, spoke to airline staff, who she claims refused to get her and Chelsea a seat together elsewhere and for the remainder of the flight Ms Schiffel sat in ­between the man and her daughter.

The airline refuted their claims in a letter.

“The flight attendants and passengers also stated that you and your daughter were allowed to move to other seats several times, that Chelsea repeatedly moved in and out of her seat, crawling over the other customer who was attempting to sleep, and that your daughter wore extremely short shorts,” the United Airlines letter said.

You have provided no evidence of any negligence on the part of United regarding this matter.”

Chelsea said what a woman was wearing should have no bearing in relation to an alleged sexual ­assault.

“For me it comes across, by them saying that, (it) feels like they were telling me that I was asking for it,” Chelsea said.

At Sydney airport both Chelsea and her mother spoke to the Australian Federal Police. The AFP confirmed the complaint had been made but said “due to insufficient evidence no charges were laid”.

“Should further evidence become available it will be assessed,” a spokeswoman said.

Ms Schiffel then unsuccessfully pursued compensation from United Airlines through Shine Lawyers.

Shine Lawyers aviation expert Thomas Janson said laying criminal charges in this case has been impossible as airlines and investigating bodies had failed to take ­affirmative action.

“Aircraft are the only form of public transport where you can’t sue for personal harm from indecent assaults,” Mr Janson said.

“These laws need urgently to change in order to protect every Australian who boards an aircraft.

Sadly, airlines are sheltering themselves behind this loophole instead of making these changes.”

United Airlines failed to provide a response.

Culled: dailytelegraphmcom.au