Doctor, 28, on foreign exchange program is arrested for groping a 16-year-old passenger while she slept on a United flight

  • Vijakumar Krishnappa, 28, was seated beside the 16-year-old girl July 23rd when she awoke to him groping her
  • Krishnappa, is reportedly a foreign doctor visiting the United States in part of a several month-long medical fellowship program
  • The teen, from Washington state, was aboard a flight to New Jersey to attend a leadership program at Princeton
  • He family is now suing United Airlines for the assault and for 'not acting sooner when she reported it to flight attendants' 

A foreign exchange doctor was charged with knowingly engaging in sexual contact with a minor after he groped a teen girl who was asleep on a United Airlines flight.

Vijakumar Krishnappa, 28, was sitting in a seat beside the 16-year-old girl en route to New Jersey July 23rd when she awoke to Krishnappa's hand placed on her thigh. 

The man reportedly stopped what he was doing when she noticed, but after falling back asleep, the teen was awoken again Krishnappa trying to put his hand down her pants, according to the complaint.

The teen informed a flight attendant about the incident shortly after and requested to be transferred to a new area of the plane.

When the plane arrived to its destination at Newark Liberty International Airport, the girl called her parents in Washington state to advise them about the situation.

A man was charged with knowingly engaging in sexual contact with a minor after he groped a teen girl a United Airlines flight

A man was charged with knowingly engaging in sexual contact with a minor after he groped a teen girl a United Airlines flight

Johnny McCray, an attorney for the family, told the Washington Post his client was able to easily spot out Krishnappa in a photo lineup of several suspects during the FBI investigation.

McCray told the Post of the 'horrific' incident: 'This is such a despicable act on his part. And for him to be a doctor … it's concerning.'

Furious family members of the minor also brought up a case against the airline for failing to kick the man off the flight sooner when the teen reported the sexual assault.

UNITED'S ROCKY YEAR IN REVIEW

In April, an airport officer forcefully dragged a United passenger off of a flight after he refused to give up his sear, leaving him with severe head and nose injuries.

In May, a woman who suffered from an overactive bladder on board at Mesa Airlines, a regional carrier of United Express, asked to use the restroom and was denied access then forced to urinate in a cup.

In June, a video went viral showing a Houston-based airport employee shoving an elderly man to the ground over a plane ticket dispute. Ronald Tigner, sued United and two employees for more than $1 million, claiming negligence from the July 21, 2015 attack.

In July, Hawaii mother Shirley Yamauchi and her child were forced to endure a three and a half hour flight sitting in the same seat after a hefty fee for the extra space was paid. The seat was given to a man flying standby for just $75.

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A spokesperson for United announced the company's plans to review and respond most appropriately to the allegations.

'The safety and security of our customers is our top priority. We take (this) very seriously and continue to work closely with the proper authorities as part of their review,' the spokesperson said in a statement.

Krishnappa, who was visiting New York City where he holds residency, has since denied the charges brought against him.

Then teen was on her way to Princeton University, where she planned to attend a leadership program.

The teen's family expressed concerns to authorities regarding the close vicinity between their daughter and Krishnappa while she was away from home and alone on the trip.

Since his release on bond, Krishnappa's whereabouts have been tracked though an electronic monitoring system. 

The event was just one of many legal matters United Airlines was dealt in recent months and years.

On April 9, passenger David Dao, 69, was bloodied as he was violently thrown from a flight by Chicago Aviation Department officers after he refused to give up his seat on the plane.

Dao was left with a broken nose, sinus damage and a concussion from the assault.

The protest was in response to airport police officers physically removing passenger Dr. David Dao from his seat and dragging him off the airplane

The protest was in response to airport police officers physically removing passenger Dr. David Dao from his seat and dragging him off the airplane

Shortly after Dao's identity was revealed in the media, United's share price hit 'a low of $68.39 at 11.13am, after opening the day at $70.15,' leaving the airline at a decline of 'about 2.6 per cent.'

Following the backlash, the airline's CEO Oscar Munoz released a statement saying the unfortunate event was a result of Dao's belligerency and refusal to cooperate to staff orders. 

'Our agents were left with no choice, but to call Chicago Aviation Security Officers to assist in removing the customer from the flight, he repeatedly decline to leave,' Munoz said. 

Officers 'physically removed him from the flight as he continued to resist – running back onto the aircraft in defiance of both out crew and security officials.' 

Just last month, a woman from Hawaii claimed United required her to forfeit a $1,000 seat she purchased for her 27-month-old son to sit in.  

CEO Oscar Munoz released a statement following David Dao's physical assault April 9 

CEO Oscar Munoz released a statement following David Dao's physical assault April 9 

Munoz said officers 'physically removed him from the flight as he continued to resist – running back onto the aircraft in defiance of both out crew and security officials.'

Munoz said officers 'physically removed him from the flight as he continued to resist – running back onto the aircraft in defiance of both out crew and security officials.'

United Airline's share price declined about 2.6 per cent following the incident

United Airline's share price declined about 2.6 per cent following the incident

'I told him that I bought both of these tickets and he tells me that he got the ticket on standby. Then he proceeds to sit in the center,' Shirley Yamauchi said. 

'I had to move my son onto my lap. He's 25 pounds. He's half my height. I was very uncomfortable. My hand, my left arm was smashed up against the wall. I lost feeling in my legs and left arm,' she said.

United issued an public apology to Yamauchi five days after the episode.

'We deeply apologize to Ms. Yamauchi and her son for this experience. We are refunding her son's ticket and providing a travel voucher. We are also working with our gate staff to prevent this from happening again.'