An unaccompanied minor was sexually abused on a plane Wednesday, June 15. Unaccompanied minor flying is generally used for children between the ages of 5 and 15, and flight attendants help keep track of the minor children. Airline rules about allowing minors to fly by themselves include the parents knowing where their child is.
United Airlines, as an example, seats minors toward the front of the plane. Unaccompanied children cannot travel with layovers; they need to be on direct flights.
A thirteen-year-old girl was travelling on a non-stop flight from Dallas to Portland, Oregon. The attacker, 26-year-old Chad Cameron Camp, had his choice of seats on the half-empty flight. However, he chose a middle seat next to the girl.
The flight attendants noticed and offered to move Camp to a different seat, but he declined. When a flight attendant returned half an hour later with drinks, she saw that Camp had his hand on the girl’s privates. The flight attendant also saw a tear running down the girl’s cheek. It was her “30 minutes of hell,” as her attorney put it.
Camp was immediately moved to another seat. As soon as the plane landed, the victim was quickly taken off of the plane. Camp was immediately arrested.
Not only did American Airlines not protect this girl, but they charged the family an extra $300 to let the girl fly unaccompanied.
The girl’s attorney, Brent Goodfellow, had this to say about the incident:
“If I have my tray table down or my seat back two inches during the improper time, those guys are going to be on me immediately. This girl got abused for 30 minutes and no one was to be found.”
He also said the girl’s family plans to sue the airline.
The FBI released this statement:
“On the night of Wednesday, June 15, 2016, FBI agents made a probable cause arrest of Chad Cameron Camp, age 26, on one federal count of abusive sexual contact. Port of Portland officers had detained Camp as he arrived on an American Airlines flight from Dallas/Ft. Worth earlier in the evening, and they continue to assist with the investigation.”
“Camp was seated on the plane next to a 13-year-old child who was flying unaccompanied. Shortly after takeoff, a witness says she saw Camp touching the child inappropriately. The flight crew immediately moved Camp away from the child, and the airline requested a law enforcement response upon landing.”
“Camp is expected to have an initial appearance at 1:30 p.m. today in U.S. District Court in Portland.”
“All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.”
Watch this video for more information about the case:
https://youtu.be/i-K6e033tqI
Featured Image Via YouTube screengrab.
