American Airlines Sued For Letting Cherian Abraham Fly Despite Sexual Assault History

Photo:WMAQ screenshot

India-West News Desk

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Cherian Abraham, a 55-year-old corporate professional from Texas, is at the center of a disturbing pattern of in-flight sexual assaults that American Airlines is now being sued over.

According to a new lawsuit, Abraham has repeatedly groped women on flights — often during red-eye trips when the cabin is dark — yet was allowed to continue flying until his March 2024 arrest.

One of his alleged victims, Barbara Morgan, is now accusing the airline of enabling a predator and then failing to protect or support her.

Morgan, a California resident, says she was sexually assaulted by Abraham on April 24, 2024, during an overnight flight from San Francisco to Dallas. She had boarded the flight to celebrate her son’s new job, but says her experience was hijacked by Abraham, who was seated next to her in seat 28B.

“Barbara yelled, ‘Stop!’ However, no one from the flight crew came to her aid,” her attorneys said in a press release. With most passengers asleep or wearing headphones, Morgan allegedly froze, unsure how to protect herself and afraid of escalating the situation. “In a state of shock,” she remained silent until landing in Dallas, where she approached a gate agent and identified Abraham.

What followed, Morgan claims, was a second trauma: American Airlines allegedly dismissed her report and blamed her for not speaking up during the flight. “

The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, accuses the airline of negligence and “victim-blaming.”

American Airlines has since banned Abraham from future flights, saying in its statement: “The safety of our customers and team members is our highest priority. We take this matter very seriously and are working closely with law enforcement on its investigation.”