The Philadelphia office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation wants the public to be aware of a serious federal crime: sexual assault aboard aircraft.

In a recent news release, the agency noted “sexual assault aboard aircraft – which usually takes the form of unwanted touching – is a felony that can land offenders in prison.”

To respond to incidents at airports or on airplanes, each of the federal agency’s 55 field offices have airport liaison agents.

These agents are assigned to the U.S. aviation facilities with passenger screening operations regulated by the Transportation Security Administration. The agents respond to crime aboard an aircraft, a violation which falls within FBI special investigative jurisdiction. 

To support and assist victims of federal crimes, the FBI stations victim specialists in field offices across the country.

Anyone who is a victim of sexual assault aboard an aircraft or witnesses one take place is encouraged to report it to the flight crew, airport authority police and the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or tips.fbi.gov.

Contact FBI Philadelphia at 215-418-4000 for more information.