Man Convicted Of Sexual Assaulting Passenger On Flight To VA

ARLINGTON, VA — A federal jury convicted a 38-year-old Texas man Thursday for abusive sexual contact and assault onboard a flight to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington on Aug. 29, 2024, according to court records.

Varun Arora of Irving, Texas, was a passenger on American Airlines Flight 1759 traveling from Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport to Reagan National. He sat in an aisle seat in row 20 of the plane, with the victim sleeping in the center seat next to him.

As the plane neared National Airport, the victim awoke to Arora's hand between her legs, touching near her genital area, according to court records. She grabbed his hand and threw it off her. She then repositioned herself to be as far away as possible from Arora, who pretended to be asleep.

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Despite having moved, the victim felt Arora, who still feigned sleep, placing his hand on her backside and began rubbing her buttocks, according to court documents. For a second time, the victim pushed Arora's hand away. When the plane landed, Arora awoke.

The victim took a photo of Arora and gathered her belongings so she could leave the plane, court records say.

Arora is due back in court on May 7 for sentencing, facing a potential sentence of two years in prison.