Teen’s ‘short shorts' implicated in groping incident on plane

Facebook/Chelsea Schiffel

Back in 2014, 15-year-old Chelsea Schiffel was on a United Airlines flight between Los Angeles and Sydney when a fellow passenger grabbed her breasts. After reporting the incident to the airline, she was surprised to learn that the “extremely short shorts” she was wearing were noted in the response.

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The incident occurred part way through the 15-hour flight when Schiffel’s mother went to the back of the plane to speak to another passenger. Left alone, the teen claims that an elderly passenger touched her breasts twice. Schiffel then goes on to claim that when she and her mother asked to move seats, the airline denied their request.

“The flight attendants and passengers also stated that you and your daughter were allowed to move to other seats several times, that Chelsea repeatedly moved in and out of her seat, crawling over the other customer who was attempting to sleep, and that your daughter wore extremely short shorts,” stated a letter from the airline in response to the Schiffel’s complaint.

“You have provided no evidence of any negligence on the part of United regarding this matter.”

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While Schiffel doesn’t address the assertion that she was in fact allowed to switch seats, she was shocked to learn that her clothing was not only noted but also included in the response.

“For me it comes across, by them saying that, [it] feels like they were telling me that I was asking for it,” she told 7News.

What do you think of United’s response to this teens complaint? Let us know your thoughts by tweeting to @YahooStyleCA.