An Italian man, Nicola Cristiano (45), has been convicted of attempted rape and sexual assault for sexually assaulting a fellow passenger on an EasyJet (U2) flight from Naples International Airport (NAP), Italy to Edinburgh Airport (EDI), Scotland on 13 May 2025, according to a report published in BBC. The High Court in Edinburgh found Cristiano guilty after a three-day trial, concluding that he targeted a woman travelling alone, repeatedly ignored her refusals, and attempted to coerce sexual acts upon her during the flight.
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In the incident that unfolded mid-air, Cristiano offered the victim wine, exposed himself, and tried to force her to engage in sexual acts. The woman managed to alert the cabin crew, who intervened and detained the accused until law enforcement could arrest him upon landing at Edinburgh Airport. This high-profile aviation crime highlights persistent concerns about passenger safety and legislative protections in international commercial air travel.
easyJet overview
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Airline name | easyJet (U2) |
| Base country | United Kingdom |
| Primary hubs | London Gatwick (LGW), London Luton (LTN), Manchester (MAN) |
| Founded | 1995 |
| Fleet size (approx.) | 193 aircraft (predominantly Airbus A320 family) |
| Business model | Low-cost carrier |
| Network | Extensive European short/medium-haul routes |
Timeline of the 13 May 2025 Incident Aboard easyJet Flight EZY3274
• Boarding and initial contact: Cristiano moved seats to sit beside a female passenger soon after boarding the Naples→Edinburgh flight.
• Offer of wine: He offered wine to the victim who accepted it. After that, Christiano exposed himself and according to STV, “tried to get her to touch his genitals and perform a sex act on him“. The woman also clearly told Christiano that she was married.
Here are her words, as quoted in the BBC:
“He was just very persistent. He tried to kiss me on my mouth. I was pulling away. I think at one point I told him my husband was sitting at the front to make him think I had somebody to make him stop but it didn’t make a difference”.
• Alert to cabin crew: The victim was asked by Cristiano to follow him to the lavatory. She asked Christiano to go first, and after he did, informed the cabin crew about the situation.
• Crew intervention: Cabin staff prevented Cristiano from leaving the lavatory and separated him from the victim.
• Arrest: On landing at Edinburgh Airport, Police Scotland arrested Cristiano.
• Trial and conviction: A jury convicted him of attempted rape and sexual assault at the High Court in Edinburgh.
Detective Chief Inspector Steph Garnett, from Police Scotland’s Public Protection Unit, was quoted to have said:
“Cristiano will now face the consequences of his despicable actions and I hope this brings comfort to his victim. He deliberately approached a woman travelling alone on a flight and sexually assaulted her. Fortunately she had an opportunity to alert a member of the cabin crew and she was taken to another part of the plane where she was safe. I also hope this conviction gives confidence to anyone who is the victim of sexual crime to come forward. We will thoroughly investigate reports made to us and we have specially trained officers to provide support”.
International and Scottish Legal Framework for In-flight Sexual Offences
Under the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009, rape and sexual assault are statutory offences. According to Section 8 of the Sexual Offences Act,
” (1)If a person (“A”)—
(a)without another person (“B”) consenting, and
(b)without any reasonable belief that B consents,
intentionally and for a purpose mentioned in subsection (2), exposes A’s genitals in a sexual manner to B with the intention that B will see them, then A commits an offence, to be known as the offence of sexual exposure.
(2)The purposes are—
(a)obtaining sexual gratification,
(b)humiliating, distressing or alarming B.”
Here are the laws regarding the circumstances in which conduct takes place without consent or “free agreement“:
| Subsection | Circumstance Where Free Agreement Is Absent | Plain-English Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| (2)(a) | Incapacity due to alcohol or substances | B cannot legally consent because intoxication or drugs impair capacity |
| (2)(b) | Violence or threats of violence | Consent is invalid if agreement is obtained through force or threats against B or others |
| (2)(c) | Unlawful detention | Consent is not free if B is being illegally restrained or held |
| (2)(d) | Deception about nature or purpose | Agreement is invalid if B is misled about what the act actually is or why it is happening |
| (2)(e) | Impersonation of a known person | Consent is void if A pretends to be someone personally known to B |
| (2)(f) | Agreement expressed by someone else | Consent is invalid if it comes from a third party rather than B |
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Previous In-Flight and Aviation-Related Sexual Assault Incidents Comparison
Sexual misconduct and assault occurring aboard aircraft or involving airline passengers and crew have been documented across different jurisdictions and flight types. According to the FBI, reported cases of in-flight sexual assault in the United States increased from 38 in 2014 to 63 in 2017, and were far higher in 2023 with nearly 96 cases opened by investigators — a figure likely underestimating actual incidence due to under-reporting.
These incidents can involve unwanted touching, exposure, or grope-type contact, as well as more serious coercive conduct; they may occur on short domestic routes as well as long-haul services and often involve situations where passengers have consumed alcohol or are asleep when the alleged assault begins.
The following table gives us a cue about some of these incidents:
| Incident | Location/Flight | Year | Type of Alleged Conduct | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vernon Baker abusive contact case | U.S. domestic flight (Los Angeles → Philadelphia) | 2024 | Grope, exposure, attempted forcing of contact after rejection | Guilty plea; faces up to 3 years and fines |
| Jet2 cabin crew sexual assault | UK → Tenerife (Porto Santo diversion) | 2025 | Multiple groping and inappropriate comments to four cabin crew | Jailed 46 weeks, sex offender registration |
| IndiGo flight groping instance | Mumbai-to-Guwahati, India | 2023 | Passenger groped another passenger in route | FIR registered; authorities involved |
| Air India attendant harassment | Air India flight from Dubai to Hyderabad | 2025 | Alleged touching of female flight attendant mid-air | Arrest under BNS provisions; obscene note found |
| FBI-documented in-flight assaults (aggregate) | Various U.S. flights | 2014–2023 | Unwanted touching, mostly during cabin lights dimmed | Federal cases opened; underscores trend |
In this particular case pertaining to Christiano:
“Judge Alison Stirling remanded Cristiano in custody after jurors returned a “non-unanimous” verdict – an expression introduced into Scots law following the recent abolition of the not proven verdict. They deleted allegations from the charge that he seized and pulled the victim towards him, kissed her, and touched her breast and body”.
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Cabin Crew Actions and Aviation Safety Protocols
Cabin crew are trained to maintain onboard security and passenger welfare. In this case, crew:
• were informed of the incident by the victim in the lavatory;
• prevented the accused from leaving the lavatory until restrained;
• separated the victim and provided comfort;
• ensured authorities were waiting upon landing.
Aviation safety procedures prioritize de-escalation, protection of vulnerable passengers, and prompt notification of law enforcement on arrival whenever serious criminal activity is suspected:
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Implications for Passenger Safety and Airline Policies
While the number of such incidents are increasing, there are a lot of safety measure that one can take. These include:
| Stage | Recommended precaution | Purpose and rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Seating awareness | Be alert to minor physical contact from nearby passengers, such as deliberate brushing or repeated proximity. Set firm boundaries and request a seat change if the behaviour feels intentional. | Offenders may initially test reactions to gauge awareness or vulnerability before escalating conduct. |
| Seat configuration | Keep the shared armrest lowered when seated next to an unfamiliar passenger, regardless of how courteous they appear. | Maintaining a physical barrier helps deter unwanted contact and reinforces personal space. |
| Unaccompanied minors | When booking travel for children flying alone, select aisle seats to keep them within the crew’s direct line of sight. | Minors are statistically more vulnerable and benefit from increased visibility and supervision. |
| Incident response | Immediately notify cabin crew if inappropriate behaviour occurs and request that the individual’s details be documented. | Early reporting enables crew intervention, evidence preservation, and timely coordination with law enforcement if required. |