• 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 » United Airlines » Doctor Gropes Teen on United Flight, Walks Free
Law In TravelUnited Airlines

Doctor Gropes Teen on United Flight, Walks Free

Matthew Klint Posted onAugust 5, 2017August 5, 2017 10 Comments

Something doesn’t add up here.

A 16-year girl was flying from Seattle to Newark for a summer fellowship program at Princeton. She was seated in a window seat and awoke to find a man’s hand on her thigh. The man, 28-year-old Dr. Vijakumar Krishnappa, quickly jerked his hand away and the girl fell back asleep.

But she was soon startled awake again–

Krishnappa again “put his hand on her groin and inner thigh, and began rubbing the victim through her clothing.” The victim was startled awake when the man attempted to put his hand down her pants.

The girl complained to FAs and asked to be moved. Her request was granted.

Oddly, though, when the plane landed in Newark, Krishnappa was allowed to leave and quickly left the airport. The girl called her family and told them what happened.

The family called the FBI, who stepped in to help. She picked out Krishnappa out of a photo line-up and he was promptly arrested. He has been charged with knowingly engaging in sexual contact with a minor.

Krishnappa denies all allegations and is free on bail with an electronic monitor.

Why Was He Let Off the Plane?

According the FBI complaint, the girl shared exactly what happened to FAs. Why, then, was Krishnappa not met by authorities in Newark? This is from the same airline that called the cops on a father holding his own son…have FAs now gone from reporting too much to reporting nothing at all? I find it inexcusable that authorities were not notified, but want to get the FA’s side. Thus far, United has only said—

The safety and security of our customers is our top priority. We take these allegations seriously and continue to work closely with the proper authorities as part of their review.

CONCLUSION

I have no idea why a 16-year-old girl would make up a story like that, with that level of detail, thus I buy her story. I trust she is telling the truth because this incident will destroy Krishnappa’s reputation and perhaps his professional career. But my question remains why United would let this man off the plane if the girl shared with FAs what happened to her. Something doesn’t add up here.

Get Daily Updates

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

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Previous Article Review: Hyatt Regency Casablanca (Regency Suite)
Next Article Heartwarming: 7-Year-Old Becomes AA Pilot

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

  • United Airlines flight attendant contract vote

    United Flight Attendants Turn Against Tentative Contract, Cite Failed Union Leadership

    July 1, 2025
  • Supreme Court Norheast Alliance

    Supreme Court Deals Final Blow To American Airlines’ Northeast Alliance

    July 1, 2025
  • United Mobile App ConnectionSaver

    United Airlines Launches Mobile App Update With Gate-To-Gate Navigation And Connection Status

    June 27, 2025

10 Comments

  1. James Reply
    August 5, 2017 at 1:19 pm

    If FA wouldn’t assist passenger with carry-on luggage, or even smile and/or a gesture of courtesy while serving passenger, why would you expect them to report to authorities? We are talking about FA from particular airline that choose violence via uniformed-with-police-tag officer rather than explaining an overbooked situation to a passenger.

    If United as an airline can make a baseless accusation that ME3 is violating open sky agreement, why they have to be honest about safety and security of their customers is their top priority?

  2. JoeMart Reply
    August 5, 2017 at 1:20 pm

    The more troubling part is that the FA didn’t notify the captain of the battery accusation and leave the decision to call police to the pilot. No career minded individual can justify not following chain of command reporting of criminal accusations.

  3. Glenn tomney Reply
    August 5, 2017 at 6:02 pm

    So let me get this straight she wakes up the man beside her has his hand on her leg he removes it and then she goes back to sleep. Then she wakes up again and he’s got the hand on her leg and her groin and then in her pants at what point did she yell or scream like any normal sixteen-year-old would do. I think in this case I’m going to have to call bullshit

    • Michele Reply
      August 6, 2017 at 12:22 pm

      She did call the cabin crew immediately, report the attack, and move seats. What further burden would you put on the victim here? Your comment is nearly as troubling as the incident.

  4. James Osborne Reply
    August 5, 2017 at 7:00 pm

    Hopefully, there will be an investigation. If the offense is confirmed, the man should have his medical license revoked and put on a no-fly list. That will reduce more victims in the future.

  5. James Reply
    August 6, 2017 at 1:27 am

    Matt, sometimes I wonder why you didn’t open a practice and specialize in consumer aviation. Surely your experience will give you an edge….

  6. Asfandzai Reply
    August 6, 2017 at 9:41 am

    His name suggests that he is from India, the number one in rapes in the world. Still no one blames india for this. Had it been some Muslim, he would be declared a terrorist and rapist

  7. Sharath Chandra Reply
    August 7, 2017 at 3:48 pm

    Asfandzai , USA is the Number One Country for Rapes on the Planet.

    Compare the Huge Population in India with Decimals in Rape % , very low compared to the US. May be 0.2 % will be the Rape % .

    In US and most Developed countries rapes
    Happen every minute but are not reported.

    9/11 was an Inside Game of Americans.

    ” Muslims are Innocent ”

    See 100 % Inner Work of 9/11 by American Fraudsters.

    Please Watch Rajiv Dixit Videos on Youtube.
    (He’s better than *KT)

    American Rogues Killed over 3000 innocent people in the WTC.

    An American Woman Gets a Contract bribe to get Money into her Chase Account, comes to India, travels alone , sleeps , drinks and has Consensual Sex with an Indian and Later Reports it as Rape.

    How Many Such Incidents do we see in India
    !! We know the stories to Tarnish India’s Image..

    Bull Shit Today Americans , Robbers who stole The land of Indians ..

    Indians are Natives , America is a Stolen land Stolen from “Indians”

    Thank God Christ !! This Girl did not report that She was Fingered.

    Our Father in Heaven is Merciful !!

    *KT is Kevin Trudeau You Moron

  8. Cynthia Reply
    August 18, 2017 at 8:14 am

    I have lived through Indian men groping women on night buses and flights for many many years. When I took the overnight bus from either my college town or big city like Bangalore to my home town, every time there was some pervert sitting either next to me or behind me whose hands magically came and rested on my body…The men pretended to be asleep but why were the hands trying to find my body parts? When I complained to the bus drivers, they did not care. They knew exactly what was going on…At some point I started to carry sharp pins or objects which I would jam into their hands that came for my body….Understand that these men were educated and dressed well! In my opinion there is a large number Indian men who are spineless perverts – they pretend to be bowing their heads in front of their mothers and god, but turn around to grope other other women in the night!! When I read this article, without getting to the end of the article, I somehow knew it would be an Indian man!! I have lived in Europe and US and never seen such creeps and perverts touching other women at night pretending to be asleep!! Indian men are the most pretentious bunch – want to appear all well behaved and cultured but total creeps and perverts when it comes to women!!

  9. Mark Reply
    September 7, 2017 at 10:28 am

    Would’ve broken his hand.

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Search

Hot Deals for July

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

  • a lobby with a marble counter and a wood ceiling
    Review: Korean Air KAL Business Lounge Los Angeles (LAX) July 1, 2025
  • United Airlines flight attendant contract vote
    United Flight Attendants Turn Against Tentative Contract, Cite Failed Union Leadership July 1, 2025
  • American Airlines Airport Standby
    American Airlines Reinstates Airport Standby For All Passengers July 1, 2025
  • Supreme Court Norheast Alliance
    Supreme Court Deals Final Blow To American Airlines’ Northeast Alliance July 1, 2025

Categories

Popular Posts

  • Qatar Airways Economy Class Breakfast
    Economy Class Breakfast On Qatar Airways June 7, 2025
  • Favorite Airline Commercials
    My 10 Favorite Airline Commercials June 15, 2025
  • Israel Flight Cancellations
    Major Carriers Extend Flight Cancellations To Israel: Here’s The List June 6, 2025
  • Qantas Lounge Review Hong Kong
    Review: Qantas Lounge Hong Kong (HKG) June 14, 2025

Archives

July 2025
M T W T F S S
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031  
« Jun    

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.