I Was Assaulted By A Flight Attendant On A Air Europa Flight From Madrid To Nyc

Location: Connecticut, USA

I appreciate any help on how to proceed. I asked the airport police how to report the incident, and was told that I should have called the police from the plane, and that they would have met me there to handle the situation. I was then told the only thing I can do is file a complaint with the airline.

The story:

I, 47F was on a flight with my husband and 3 kids. I was sitting next to my daughters. The man sitting behind me kept kicking my seat, pulling it every time he went to the bathroom (he must have gone 5 times during the 6 hour flight). The woman next to him asked my daughter to move up her seat so she could have more space. Very entitled people who should have paid for first class. They’re both Spanish on a Spanish airline where the crew speaks limited English.

When meal was served, the man behind me asked me to move up my seat. I told him I couldn’t because the person in front of me was fully reclined. Every seat was reclined, except for my daughter’s because she chose to be cramped in order to appease the woman behind her.

The man would not take no for an answer and said something the flight attendant nearby. The flight attendant came over, pressed my seat button down without a word, and told me I had enough space. I was started and jerked my head back. As I tried to adjust my body , before even saying anything - he pinned me down to my seat! I told him he couldn’t touch me. He let go, looked at me, smiled, and did it again, but this time he touched me somewhere else. I just started crying I as type this.

I was exhausted, feeling ill, I posed no threat. I didn’t make a scene for fear of being arrested, and because my kids were on the plane.

I want to press charges but don’t know how. Where would I do that? CT, NY? Air Europa is based in Spain. I feel violated and discriminated against. Do I need a lawyer?

I appreciate any help.