Thai woman accuses Pakistani man of assault mid-flight

Dhaka: A Thai woman has accused a fellow passenger of sexually assaulting her while she slept with her four-year-old daughter during a flight from Dubai to Bangkok.

Beaut Pimpaporn, 33, said the incident took place aboard Flydubai Flight FZ1583, a connecting service to Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok, that she boarded in Dubai after arriving from Milan, Italy.

Pimpaporn said she had taken sleep medication to adjust to a new time zone and had dozed off under a blanket with her daughter on her lap. She woke to find a nearby male passenger allegedly touching her inappropriately.

Writing on social media under the name Beaut Aornnicha, she said she noticed wetness on her clothing and briefly doubted her own account of events before realizing what had happened.

She said the man, identified as a 30-year-old Pakistani national, Raza Ali, pretended to fiddle with his in-flight entertainment screen while glancing at her repeatedly.

Pimpaporn said she chose not to raise the alarm mid-flight and instead reported the matter to the cabin crew only after the aircraft landed in Bangkok. She said a Thai staff member later identified what appeared to be semen stains on her trousers.

According to her account, crew members questioned Ali, who initially denied any wrongdoing before admitting to the conduct, reportedly breaking down and pleading for forgiveness. Members of a Pakistani tour group traveling with him also allegedly asked her not to pursue the matter.

Pimpaporn said the crew declined to treat the case as a private matter and moved her daughter away, taking the child to the cockpit so she would not witness the confrontation.

Tourist police and immigration authorities subsequently escorted Ali off the plane and took him into custody. Pimpaporn filed a police report and said she plans to press charges and seek damages.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Chamnanyut Konkong of Don Mueang Police Station confirmed the suspect had been refused entry into Thailand.

He said investigators had taken a statement from the complainant and would first attempt mediation between the two parties, calling it standard procedure.

Pimpaporn said she chose to make her identity public in hopes of encouraging other women, especially solo travelers, to come forward without shame if they experience similar situations.

"Passengers are often sleeping during long flights, and women travelling alone can be vulnerable," she added.