• Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Live and Let's Fly
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Home » Delta Air Lines » Intoxicated Delta Flight Attendant Kissed And Groped Female Passenger, Vaped Onboard
Delta Air LinesLaw In Travel

Intoxicated Delta Flight Attendant Kissed And Groped Female Passenger, Vaped Onboard

Matthew Klint Posted onNovember 24, 2023November 24, 2023 22 Comments

a person sitting on an escalator

An explosive lawsuit alleges negligence by Delta Air Lines and collusion between an intoxicated Delta off-duty flight attendant and the flight attendants who continued to serve her alcohol. The allegations here are wild including sexual assault and vaping.

Lawsuit Alleges Passenger Was Unwillingly Kissed and Groped By A “Bombed” Delta Flight Attendant After Her On-Duty Colleagues Served Her Five Cans Of Beer

Abigail Louise Trebnick-Emerson is a Delta flight attendant who was flying “non-rev” (meaning at a greatly reduced price on a space-available basis) from Las Vegas (LAS) to Minneapolis (MSP). She was placed in a middle seat next to Alison Petri, who was seated on the aisle.

Trebnick-Emerson was served wine onboard, two cans at a time. After consuming the first two cans, she ordered two more. After finishing the third, she leaned over and kissed her female seatmate on the mouth.

Petri retreated to the rear lavatory and reported the incident. One of the on-duty flight attendants, John Riss, purportedly brought Trebnick-Emerson a glass of water…and a fifth can of wine.

That may have been the end of it, but after the flight landed when Petri stood up to gather her luggage, Trebnick-Emerson reportedly groped her in the butt. She also began vaping as the plane descended, blowing “‘plumes of smoke” toward Petri.

Delta Flight attendant Vapes

The incident occurred on November 17, 2022, with the lawsuit (against Delta Air Lines for negligence) filed hours before the one-year statute of limitation expired. Petri immediately found Delta ground staff in Minneapolis and made her complaint. Flight attendants were interviewed, but denied seeing anything onboard (more on that in a moment).

Meanwhile, Trebnick-Emerson was so intoxicated she stumbled down an escalator and was later held by local police and charged with disorderly conduct until she could sober up. As part of her plea deal in the criminal matter, she admitted to physically touching Petri against her will.

There’s more to this story which I will analyze tomorrow. I have the Facebook Messenger records between Riss and Trebnick-Emerson. The cover-up over this was so clear that Petri’s case is very strong and it is not only Trebnick-Emerson who should fear losing a job.

CONCLUSION

A woman is suing Delta and an off-duty Delta flight attendant for unwanted physical contact including kissing on the mouth and groping the buttocks on a Delta flight departing Las Vegas. Her case is strong and even includes photographic evidence of the off-duty attendant’s intoxication.

This is really a case about non-revs acting up onboard and how they are often enabled and protected by their colleagues. We’ll go into that more tomorrow.

What are your thoughts on this lawsuit?

Get Daily Updates

Join our mailing list for a daily summary of posts! We never sell your info.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Previous Article A Remarkably Smooth Thanksgiving For US Airlines
Next Article Frontier Vs. United: Point-By-Point Comparison On Same Route

About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

Related Posts

  • Avelo ICE Billboard

    Avelo Airlines Sued By Aviation Blogger Turned Pol Over Billboards Attacking ICE Deportation Flights

    May 18, 2025
  • a group of people sitting in a room with chairs and tables

    Review: Delta Sky Club Atlanta (ATL) – A17

    May 17, 2025
  • a sign on a wood surface

    Angry Traveler Rails Against Delta’s Transgender Restrooms At Atlanta Sky Club

    May 16, 2025

22 Comments

  1. Mike Skaggs Reply
    November 24, 2023 at 11:50 am

    Who’s the Riss person in the Facebook messages?

    • Stuart Reply
      November 24, 2023 at 11:54 am

      It says above, the FA working the flight who the woman complained to.

      • Mike Skaggs Reply
        November 24, 2023 at 11:55 am

        Missed that – thanks – As a non-rev, this is beyond the pale.

  2. Stuart Reply
    November 24, 2023 at 12:01 pm

    What happens in Vegas apparently extends to flights home.

  3. Maryland Reply
    November 24, 2023 at 12:14 pm

    So the non-rev is still working for Delta? After being detained by airport security for being so intoxicated? (Let alone the passenger allegations? Is this correct?

    • Mike Skaggs Reply
      November 24, 2023 at 12:22 pm

      I find this VERY hard to believe she’s still working. I have been a DL non rev my entire 53 years. I was once denied boarding in BHM because my shirt was denim under my coat and tie. If I rang a call button I would spontaneously combust.
      I believe the non-rev decorum and dress code pendulum has sung too far right from those days but for SURE she had her pass privileges revoked at minimum and she has no union to protect her so I can’t imagine she’s still employed.

      • Matthew Klint Reply
        November 24, 2023 at 12:25 pm

        I would agree – seems highly unlikely that she would still be employed at this point. I called her a Delta FA because she was one at the time and Delta has not commented on this matter or confirmed whether she is still employed.

    • Koggerj Reply
      November 24, 2023 at 9:23 pm

      She’s a woman, of course she gets a slap on the wrist.

      Women live life on easy mode.

      • Sue Reply
        November 27, 2023 at 2:21 pm

        As a woman I can assure you that your perception is invalid.

  4. Santastico Reply
    November 24, 2023 at 2:11 pm

    “The incident occurred on November 17, 2022” Why we are hearing about it 1 year later? This is the type of stuff that you sue immediately and not wait a year to act on it.

    • david Reply
      November 24, 2023 at 2:24 pm

      Maybe not. They may have been trying to settle it out of court, thinking they could get a bigger settlement if doing so kept it out of the news.

      • Matthew Klint Reply
        November 24, 2023 at 2:56 pm

        That may well be, but it was certainly filed not a day later to avoid SOL concerns.

  5. Tim Done Reply
    November 24, 2023 at 2:14 pm

    Everybody knows that Delta is head and shoulders above everyone else. They outperform ALL competitors. They are building on a long list of successes to further distinguish itself from the industry. They hire and retain the best in the industry.

    • John Clark Reply
      November 24, 2023 at 4:43 pm

      Seems as if you drank the Koolaid-LOL. Not really what this story is about Tim.

    • Willy Loman Reply
      November 24, 2023 at 9:44 pm

      Sarcasm or just bot doing damage control?

      • DCAWABN Reply
        November 27, 2023 at 10:08 am

        A user with the handle “Tim Dunn” is a horrific Delta apologist on many travel blogs. For frequent/longtime readers, it’s kind of an inside joke as any time there’s a post about DL, good or bad, Tim Dunn absolutely MUST chime in with some nonsensical “facts” about how great Delta is and how anyone criticizing Delta is incorrect. (S)He takes himself VERY seriously with his bullshit and “facts” and “statistics”, but pretty much every other reader who’s been around long enough to know (of) him is laughing *at* him.

  6. Michael R. Reply
    November 24, 2023 at 5:36 pm

    By the graciousness of my dearest friend, I am able to fly non-rev on United. I take advantage of it as much as possible – 20 – 30 trips a year. While I joke around with my FA retiree friend, on board, non-revs should fade into the background as much as humanly possible.

    (I make it habit to bring 3-4 bags of share candy on board for the FAs and I say “Thank you for the ride, I’m non rev and please feel free to call on me for anything. Whether it’s lifting a carry-on bag into an overhead or a serious need, I’m here to help.”)

    That’s it. No shitface drunk episodes, no demands relating to food, and no drama… THAT is how non-revs should travel. Full Stop.

    You are a guest of the airline. Act appropriately.

    What is most surprising to me is that MOST non-rev issues I’ve seen are about buddy/companion use and not the employee or the retiree.

  7. FredGarvin,M.P. Reply
    November 24, 2023 at 9:00 pm

    You lost me at ” cans of wine.”

  8. enzo Reply
    November 25, 2023 at 3:06 am

    Rev/Con is irrelevant, just a trashy passenger. I can’t imagine how Delta is liable for this

    • Pete S Reply
      November 25, 2023 at 11:28 am

      The woman who did the groping was a Delta employee, acting is their agent even if off duty. She continued to be over served by Delta Delta had the means to control her behavior, or at least limit the recurrence after the initial kiss and before the Parting butt squeeze. As usual, it’s the cover up not the offense

  9. Mike Skaggs Reply
    November 26, 2023 at 11:46 am

    Is the picture of the person falling down supposedly the same one that is on the plane? Completely different hacket and bag.

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      November 26, 2023 at 12:47 pm

      It is the same person. Picture is from court documents (surveillance footage still).

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Search

Hot Deals for May

Note: Please see my Advertiser Disclosure

Capital One Venture X Business Card
Earn 150,000 Miles Sign Up Bonus
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Earn 100,000 Points
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles!
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles
Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Earn $750 Cash Back
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Earn 120,000 Membership Reward® Points

Recent Posts

  • tail fins of airplanes in the sky
    Spirit, Southwest, JetBlue: Time to Rethink Perceptions May 18, 2025
  • Alaska-Hawaiian Merger DOT
    What Hawaiian Airlines AMEX Exit Means For Alaska MileagePlan May 18, 2025
  • Avelo ICE Billboard
    Avelo Airlines Sued By Aviation Blogger Turned Pol Over Billboards Attacking ICE Deportation Flights May 18, 2025
  • global airlines
    Global Airlines Defies Some Critics, Justifies Others May 18, 2025

Categories

Popular Posts

  • a room with a table and benches
    Where To Smoke At Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport (CDG) April 26, 2025
  • United Airlines Polaris Lounge Chicago Review
    Review: United Polaris Lounge Chicago (ORD) May 1, 2025
  • United Airlines Refresh Polaris Lounge Chicago
    First Look: United Airlines Reopens Renovated Polaris Lounge In Chicago (ORD) April 29, 2025
  • a hand holding a blue card
    Chase Sapphire Preferred 100K Bonus Offer Ending Soon May 2, 2025

Archives

May 2025
M T W T F S S
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031  
« Apr    

As seen on:

facebook twitter instagram rss
Privacy Policy © Live and Let's Fly All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Live and Let's Fly with appropriate and specific directions to the original content.