Sexual Assaults On Airplanes Are Up, And Likely Underreported, A CBS News Investigation Finds

CBS Bay Area

February 17, 2026

Renee Solofra felt trapped in the middle seat on a flight from Chicago to Florida in September 2023. She said the man sitting next to her in the aisle seat was visibly intoxicated, smelled of alcohol and continued to drink before sexually assaulting her.

"I already had the back of my neck grabbed; I had my hand grabbed; I'd had my cellphone taken out of my hand and had to take it back from the individual," she said. "We were close to landing and at that point in time, I had crossed my arms on my lap, closed my eyes and was just thinking to myself, 'we're finally going to land.' And that's when he grabbed my breast."

Solofra recalled breaking down in tears when she was finally able to get off the plane and report the assault to the gate agent. She pressed charges against her aggressor, Daniel McAdams, who

Renee Solofra spoke with CBS News about being grabbed by a man sitting next to her on a flight/CBS News

pleaded guilty to battery.

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