Thai mother says she woke to a Pakistani passenger sexually assaulting her as her four-year-old daughter slept beside her on a Dubai-Bangkok flight. He was arrested on landing, jailed for three years, fined ฿120,000 and banned from Thailand.
A Thai court has sentenced a Pakistani man to three years in prison, fined him ฿120,000 and banned him from re-entering Thailand after a Thai woman said he sexually assaulted her aboard an overnight flight from Dubai to Bangkok while she slept beside her four-year-old daughter. The case first came to light on August 3 when “Beaut Aornnicha” revealed her ordeal on social media, saying the attack on the Dubai-Bangkok flight was reported to cabin crew about 90 minutes before landing, leading to the man’s detention on arrival at Bangkok and swift prosecution.
A Thai woman has described waking to find a fellow passenger touching her inappropriately during an overnight flight from Dubai to Bangkok while her four-year-old daughter slept beside her.
The woman, identified as “Beaut Aornnicha”, said the incident unfolded after she fell asleep. In response, cabin crew confronted the Pakistani passenger before the aircraft landed in Bangkok.
The Pakistani man was detained when the flight arrived. Subsequently, according to Ms Aornnicha, Tourist Police pursued the case through the Thai justice system. In an update posted on August 5, she said the offender received a three-year prison sentence, a ฿120,000 fine and a ban on re-entering Thailand.
Passenger recalls waking to touching beside young daughter during overnight Dubai flight to Bangkok
Ms Aornnicha first revealed the incident in a Facebook post on August 3. She said she had been travelling from Dubai with her four-year-old daughter. Shortly after take-off, she noticed the Pakistani passenger resting his arm across her seat.
At first, she found the behaviour unusual but chose to ignore it. Later, she took a sleeping pill to help adjust to the time difference. She then settled beside her daughter and drifted into what she described as a deep sleep.
Moments later, she woke to a horrifying discovery. She said she felt a hand touching her near her right buttock. At the same time, she noticed a wet sensation in the same area. She said she had remained covered by a blanket throughout the flight. Initially, she wondered if she had imagined everything. However, that uncertainty quickly disappeared.
Instead, she looked towards the neighbouring passenger. There, she saw him staring directly at her as he repeatedly fidgeted with the in-flight entertainment screen. Notably, she believes he began touching her while she was unconscious. She also believes she awoke only after the assault had already started. The realisation left her deeply shaken.
Cabin crew confronted passenger after victim’s report and demanded police meet the flight in Bangkok
Despite the shock, Ms Aornnicha remained composed. Rather than confronting the man immediately, she waited until she could safely alert the cabin crew. About 90 minutes before landing, she reported the incident to a flight attendant and explained what had happened.
Without delay, the crew confronted the Pakistani passenger. According to Ms Aornnicha, he admitted what he had done.
He then burst into tears and repeatedly apologised. Even so, she refused to let the matter end there. Instead, she demanded that police meet the aircraft upon its arrival in Bangkok.
Meanwhile, a Thai member of the cabin crew came to assist. During the response, the crew member reportedly noticed a stain on Ms Aornnicha’s trousers. That observation left her even more distressed. She later said it reinforced what had happened while she slept.
After landing in Bangkok, police boarded the aircraft and detained the passenger. From there, Tourist Police continued the investigation. As part of the case, officers gathered evidence before the matter proceeded through the courts.
Tourist Police pursued case before court imposed jail, fine and Thailand re-entry ban on passenger
According to Ms Aornnicha’s update on Wednesday, August 5th, officers later confirmed the outcome. The court sentenced the Pakistani man to three years in prison. In addition, judges imposed a fine of ฿120,000. Separately, she said he would also face a ban on re-entering Thailand.
The case rapidly spread across social media after Ms Aornnicha published her account. As a frequent international traveller, she said she had never experienced anything similar despite flying regularly.
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She also explained that the sleeping pill had contributed to her deep sleep. Consequently, she remained unaware until she woke during the assault.
Finally, Ms Aornnicha urged other travellers to remain alert around unfamiliar passengers. She also encouraged people to share her account as a warning based on her experience.
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