11 Year-Old Girl allegedly molested on Delta flight

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ajc reports on this sick story.

The charges were made public in a lawsuit filed last week in Fulton County State Court should make parents think twice before placing any unescorted child on a bus, plane or train. It seeks unspecified damages.

Mark Tate, who is representing the family, said the girl was traumatized by the incident. Though the girl reported the incident to her mother when she got off the plane, Tate says that no criminal charges have been filed and no suspect identified as yet. The mother took the report to Huntsville police, Atlanta police and eventually worked her way to the FBI.

"Delta has a very high burden to meet in protecting passengers," said Tate. "We feel Delta didn't meet that. This little girl is not doing well. It's caused severe problems."

Officials at the airline have refused to address this.

Delta mouthpiece Susan Elliott said the airline tries to properly serve all of it's passengers.

"Along with making sure passengers are comfortable and arrive at their final destination, our flight crews work to ensure their safety and security, which includes the thousands of unaccompanied minors who travel with us every year," said Elliott.

The incident alleged, occurred on Jan. 6 when the girl was on a return trip from San Diego where she was visiting her father, a Marine who was on leave. Her mother was there to meet the plane in Atlanta.

"Seated next to her was a child molester who switched seats so that neither were in their assigned seats," the suit reads. "During the flight the passenger ... began to rub her face. The passenger ... told (the girl) his penis was itching and began rubbing his penis while rubbing her face."

Though rare, similar incidents have been reported on other planes.

In fact, Northwest Airlines paid more than $500,000 to a girl who claimed she was repeatedly sexually molested by a man seated next to her on a flight from Kansas City, Mo., to Detroit in 2001. The girl identified the man who denied it.

This is just horrible. I know they have been slacking in their duties, based on the stories I have reported on, but this is unacceptable. Children must be one of their top priorities.