The lights had barely dimmed after meal service on a 14-hour flight from Santiago to Paris, when a piercing scream shattered the plane cabin’s silence.

A young woman in the row beside me suddenly leapt from her seat, visibly shaken, before rushing towards the galley. Moments later, cabin crew began quietly questioning nearby passengers.

I wasn’t entirely sure what had happened. One flight attendant later told me that a male passenger, believed to be in his late teens or early twenties, had allegedly assaulted the woman while she was sleeping.

Another passenger claimed she had heard he had attempted to kiss her and force her head into his lap.

The accused was moved to an isolated crew seat near the galley, while the woman was relocated elsewhere in the plane.

Cabin crew advised her that she could report the incident upon arrival in Paris, but the shaken young woman expressed concern about missing a connecting flight if she became involved in a police investigation.

After landing, passengers were informed that police would be meeting the aircraft and that passports would need to be shown before anyone disembarked.

What happened next remains unknown.

The incident, however, prompted a troubling question: just how common are sexual assaults on aircraft?

A growing concern

While such occurences remain relatively rare compared with the billions of people who fly every year, evidence suggests reports of misconduct in the skies are increasing.

The FBI has investigated more than 170 cases involving passenger-on-passenger physical and sexual assaults in recent years, while the Federal Aviation Administration continues to record thousands of reports of disruptive behaviour annually. 

Globally, the International Air Transport Association says there is now approximately one unruly passenger incident for every 395 flights.

Experts believe the confined nature of air travel creates unique vulnerabilities. Passengers are often sleeping, fatigued, consuming alcohol and unable to easily remove themselves from uncomfortable situations.

One particularly high-profile case involved a British woman known publicly only as Kelly, who was sexually assaulted aboard a Qatar Airways flight from Doha to London Gatwick in 2023. 

The 24-year-old awoke to find the man seated beside her with his hands down her trousers. The passenger, 66-year-old Momade Jussab, was arrested upon landing and later sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison after being convicted of sexual assault by penetration and two counts of sexual assault.

The case attracted further attention when Kelly was denied compensation under the UK’s Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme because the assault took place on a foreign-registered aircraft, highlighting what campaigners have described as a significant gap in the law.

Meanwhile, earlier this year, Italian national Nicola Cristiano, 45, was convicted of attempted rape after targeting a woman travelling alone on an EasyJet flight from Naples to Edinburgh. Prosecutors said he deliberately moved seats to sit beside her before sexually assaulting her during the flight.

The victim managed to alert cabin crew and Cristiano was arrested when the plane landed in Scotland. He was later convicted at the High Court in Edinburgh, in a case that again highlighted the vulnerabilities faced by passengers in the confined environment of an aircraft cabin.

My own experience

Over more than two decades of extensive travel, only one other alarming incident stands out in my memory – and it happened to me. I was travelling from the UK to Nepal when I woke to find the male passenger seated beside me touching my leg.

I remember feeling instantly repulsed. The man, who appeared to be in his 60s, had somehow placed his hand on my upper thigh. As soon as I stirred awake, he quickly withdrew it and acted as though nothing had happened.

Yet his uneasy, shifty demeanour left me in little doubt that he knew his behaviour was inappropriate. Horrified, I immediately alerted a member of the cabin crew, who quickly moved me to another seat.

The incident never escalated further, but it left a lasting impression of just how vulnerable passengers can feel in the confined environment of an aircraft cabin.

When I later asked female friends about their own experiences, several described uncomfortable attention from male passengers, ranging from persistent staring and unwanted conversation, to repeated offers of drinks. In some cases, they said the inappropriate behaviour even came from airline staff.

One friend recalled being repeatedly given booze by two male crew members while travelling in her twenties. Looking back, she now feels uncomfortable about behaviour she brushed off at the time, and realises how inappropriate and unprofessional it was.

Why might incidents be increasing?

Craig Bickers, founder and director of medical repatriation company SkyCare Repatriation, tells Metro that he believes several factors may be contributing to the apparent rise in incidents. ‘With more people travelling than ever before and increased awareness around reporting inappropriate behaviour, it’s possible more incidents are now being recognised and reported rather than ignored,’ he explains.

Craig adds that the immediate priority for anyone experiencing inappropriate behaviour onboard should be personal safety. ‘If possible, they should discreetly alert cabin crew and request to be moved away from the individual involved,’ he says. ‘Airlines have safeguarding and incident procedures, and authorities may be notified ahead of arrival depending on the circumstances.’

He also stresses that victims should never feel pressured into making an immediate report. ‘Once a formal report begins, many decisions can quickly move out of the victim’s control. It’s important that individuals feel informed, supported and able to make choices at their own pace wherever possible.’

The reality of trauma

Sam Thompson, a safeguarding specialist and Sexual Safety Lead for the Royal College of Paramedics, says public perceptions often fail to reflect how victims respond in traumatic situations.

‘One of the biggest misconceptions is that victims will always respond clearly and decisively in the moment,’ he tells Metro. ‘In reality, people often freeze, minimise what has happened, second-guess themselves, or focus primarily on getting safely to their destination.’

According to Sam, aircrafts create particularly challenging environments because of restricted movement and the social pressure not to cause a scene.

For many victims, the fear extends beyond the incident itself. ‘People may worry about being disbelieved, blamed, publicly exposed, delayed in a foreign country, separated from travelling companions, or losing autonomy over decisions that directly affect them,’ he adds.

‘There is often an assumption that reporting automatically feels empowering. In practice, many people experience the opposite initially – a rapid loss of privacy, predictability and control.’

After my own uncomfortable experience in my twenties, I have become more conscious of who I am seated next to on flights. 

These days, I make sure the armrest remains a clear boundary between my personal space and that of the passenger beside me.

While such precautions may seem small, they reflect a reality many travellers – particularly women – know all too well: personal safety can never be taken entirely for granted.

An invisible crime

For most passengers, flying remains one of the safest forms of travel. Yet incidents like the one I witnessed somewhere over the Atlantic serve as a reminder that crime does not stop at the aircraft door.

The young woman on that overnight flight faced a difficult decision familiar to many victims: whether to report what happened and potentially become entangled in an unfamiliar legal process, or continue her journey and leave the incident behind.

Whatever choice she made, experts agree on one thing – the priority must remain the victim’s safety, wellbeing and ability to make informed decisions about what happens next.

As passenger numbers continue to rise, airlines and authorities face a growing challenge – ensuring that the skies remain not only safe, but safe for everyone.

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The six-part series, written by Sophie Goodhart and co-starring Jemaine Clement, begins with a friendship-shattering premise. Alice (Walker) discovers her best friend Steve (Clement) is dating her 26-year-old daughter, Izzy. What follows is part comedy and part emotional warfare as two middle-aged friends spiral into a battle of resentment, jealousy and revenge.

Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler both struggled at the Memorial Tournament on Friday

JT Poston navigated challenging, blustery conditions to seize a one-shot advantage at the Memorial Tournament, while the world’s leading duo of Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler endured difficult outings.

McIlroy found himself at odds with the slick greens, carding a 74 that featured three bogeys and a double-bogey after requiring five strokes to complete the par-four 13th from just 112 yards.

The Holywood man now faces an uphill battle to mount a comeback, sitting 10 strokes adrift of Poston—the same deficit facing Scheffler, who confessed he “could have shot 90” following his level-par 72.

Poston’s impressive seven-under 65 at Muirfield Village in Ohio stood four strokes clear of any other competitor in the field.

First-round co-leader Tommy Fleetwood slipped down the leaderboard with a 73, falling to fourth place, five shots behind the leader.

“It was pretty brutal, actually. I still think I got a good score out of that today. I made a bogey on one and six, where I didn’t really feel like I had done anything wrong whatsoever,” he said.

Scheffler’s pursuit of a third consecutive title remains within reach after salvaging three birdies across his final six holes, having previously suffered three consecutive bogeys from the eighth and managing to escape with par despite shanking from a bunker at the fifth.

“Overall it was a tough day, I felt I could have shot 90. I may be a lot of things but I’m not a quitter,” he said. “That’s maybe some of the worst I’ve hit it in a couple years out there and I still managed to shoot even par around a golf course that requires you to strike the ball really well.”

US PGA champion Aaron Rai and fellow Englishman Alex Fitzpatrick find themselves tied for ninth place on one under par, carding rounds of 70 and 71 respectively, joined by Ireland’s Shane Lowry, whose round of 73 featured five birdies but was undermined by a pair of double bogeys and two further bogeys.

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Security will be a lot more stricter than the Tartan Army is used to but it won’t stop the party, says Record View.

There’s a week to go until Scotland kick off a World Cup campaign for the first time in 28 years.

Older readers might remember a time when Scotland qualified for every World Cup as a matter of routine.

But for younger Record readers, they might have thought they would never see this day coming.

As kick-off approaches next weekend some are preparing to watch the opening Scotland match in the pub or at home with friends and family.

Thousands are also heading off on the long trip across the Atlantic Ocean to soak up the atmosphere in Boston and Miami.

As we report today, celebrities like Susan Boyle are set to join the Tartan Army to watch history unfold as we try to reach the knockout stages for the first time.

But amid all the glorious anticipation, we also report today how the Tartan Army will have to be on their usual best behaviour in the US.

Under Donald Trump’s leadership, the country takes a much stricter view on incomers – with ICE agents in operation around the country throwing out illegal immigrants.

We report today on a warning from top US immigration adviser Tiffany Derentz that the Scots will not get any ­preferential treatment. Any rowdy ­behaviour that results in arrest could see Scots deported straight home.

There are also warnings that security for our final match in Miami against Brazil will be a lot stricter than many fans are used to.

But that doesn’t mean that our Tartan Army footsoldiers have to turn down the volume or tone down the party.

All over the world our supporters have been taken into the hearts of locals – and we’re sure America will be no different.

Give us answers

The growing scandal at the Jura ward at Glasgow’s Stobhill Hospital is escalating fast.

Families at the unit claim that their elderly loved ones were left “like zombies” after being doped up with unprescribed drugs.

Now lawyers are preparing a legal case as families attempt to get to the truth of what happened.

It’s a horrible thought that our parents or grandparents would be treated ­inhumanely at a place where they are vulnerable and in need of care.

The families who have spoken to the Daily Record highlighting their concerns are distraught at what they have witnessed.

So we hope that hospital bosses will be honest and transparent about what happened at the Jura ward.

The families involved deserve nothing less.

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De Boisse says they are merely reviving an old French tradition of dining en masse with good local fare that goes back into the depths of medieval history. After the French Revolution, which led to the abolition of the monarchy, there were banquets républicains – marking the arrival of the new system – and, until recently, every village used to have its annual banquet populaire – a kind of people’s feast.

Just after midnight, in the early hours of this morning, North Yorkshire Police officers spotted a silver Peugeot 207 car being driven erratically, at high speed, and swerving between lanes, on the A64 eastbound.

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said: “The vehicle failed to stop, and was driven on towards Scarborough, with police in pursuit.

“After about ten minutes, it clipped a kerb and came to a halt at Musham Bank.

“The driver, a man in his 20s, was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, failing to stop, drink driving, and possession of class C drugs. He remains in custody at this time.”

We all say we want happiness and contentment, and yet our behaviour often sabotages that, with unconscious habits and tics and urges that propel us into chaos or conflict.

And according to astrology, your zodiac sign may reveal the exact emotional blind spot, coping mechanism or mindset quietly standing between you and the life you actually want.

Yes, we can blame our star signs once again!

Here’s the one thing secretly blocking each zodiac sign from happiness — and how to break through to transform your life for the better.

Aries

March 21 to April 20

What’s blocking Aries’ happiness: Believing you must always win and be seen as invincible.

Vulnerability is a tough look for you to master, and yet it’s often what is expected, needed and wanted by others. They know you don’t always deal with things like the way you present. They want to be let in.

You often equate happiness with achievement and winning, but the constant pressure to ‘push through’ leaves little room for emotional honesty. Rest, support, and sensitivity are not weakness.

Head here for everything you need to know about being an Aries

Taurus

April 21 to May 21

What’s blocking Taurus’ happiness: Hanging in there far too long.

You find it very hard to let go, even when what you’re holding onto is fading, false or deeply hurtful. Whatever you once possessed, you struggle to release. You remain emotionally attached to things that no longer make you happy simply because they feel familiar.

Accelerate towards releasing dead weight far faster, your happiness begins the moment you stop confusing familiarity with fulfilment.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Taurus

Gemini

May 22 to June 21

What’s blocking Gemini’s happiness: Rationalising your feelings.

You can talk the talk about emotions and sound very convincing, like you’ve got your s*** together. But you’re actually only intellectualising your feelings. Truly sitting with them? Much harder.

Distraction, avoidance and humour are your go-to weapons in this battle against drowning in emotion. But you’d never drown, Gemini. You will always surface, and you’ll do so far faster if you let it all wash over you. Stop trying to outsmart your true feelings. Let them surface.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Gemini

Cancer

June 22 to July 23

What’s blocking Cancer’s happiness: Putting others first too often, for too long, in too big a way.

Your instinct to nurture others can leave you emotionally depleted. You spend so much energy protecting and caring for others that there’s often very little left for you. And, then, on top of that, you start to feel resentment and frustration but have nowhere for it to go. Festering.

The truth? Resentment mounts up and poisons wherever self-sacrifice becomes constant. Your happiness depends on learning that caring for yourself isn’t selfish. Self-care is your homework. Boundaries are your protection.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Cancer

Leo

July 24 to August 23

What’s blocking Leo’s happiness: Validation isn’t value.

You are the glowiest, most outgoing and externally confident sign of the zodiac… but secretly rely too heavily on external approval to feel worthy. Attention and admiration are what you pursue, even unconsciously, until criticism or rejection knocks your confidence completely.

Never let success go to your head nor failure to your heart. Learn to balance and ground yourself in your own victories and benchmarks, not those set by others. Other people’s opinions are not your business.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Leo

Virgo

August 24 to September 23

What’s blocking Virgo’s happiness: Thinking that you have to be perfect to be happy.

Virgos can be brutally hard on themselves. Always in pursuit of the next achievement, self-improvement goal or perfectly organised plan, and often feeling like happiness exists just over that horizon, vs here and now. Almost like you don’t deserve it ‘until’…

But life isn’t a constant project. You are not an issue to be fixed. You are good! Work on things, sure, but enjoy the journey, the ride, the experience. Relax. Be in the here and now and let yourself enjoy it all.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Virgo

Libra

September 24 to October 23

What’s blocking Libra’s happiness: Conflict evasion 24/7.

Libra craves peace, harmony and connection and can shapeshift to keep the peace even when it flies in the face of your true feelings or needs. You smile through disappointment, stay quiet to avoid tension and tell yourself it’s ‘easier this way’.

But it’s not sustainable because then you feel pushed out, ignored, or resentment festers. Don’t disguise suppression and self sacrifice as diplomacy. Speak your mind, listen well, find compromises. If not, walk away and let it settle down. Don’t feel it’s all on your shoulders to heal, mend and make nice.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Libra

Scorpio

October 24 to November 22

What’s blocking Scorpio’s happiness: Control.

Scorpio is intensely emotional and deep, and therefore vulnerability can feel terrifying. In order to avoid that feeling, Scorpios will focus on through control: controlling emotions, situations, relationships or expectations before anyone can hurt you.

But it doesn’t work. People don’t play ball, circumstances change, moods rise and fall, s*** happens, basically! So trust that you can handle it, whatever happens, and let everything outside of your direct personal circle of influence take care of itself. You will be fine, you are very strong.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Scorpio

Sagittarius

November 23 to December 21

What’s blocking Sagittarius’ happiness: Restlessness, always seeking the better option.

Sagittarius loves possibility, freedom and adventure, but this can overtip into a selfish quest for the better option, always feeling like you’re missing out and need to be out hunting again. This can impact work, money, family, relationships… folk come to think you don’t really care for or prioritise them, because you struggle to appreciate what already exists in front of you.

Not every uncomfortable feeling means you need to escape. Consciously practice patience. Make yourself push through discomfort to show loyalty or commitment to the things, people and places that truly matter to you.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Sagittarius

Capricorn

December 22 to January 21

What’s blocking Capricorn’s happiness: Basing your self-worth on material status.

Capricorns are ambitious, capable and resilient but you often tie self-worth directly to your success, responsibility or usefulness. This can lead you into burnout and exhaustion, and rack up hollow victories that you don’t, emotionally, truly enjoy.

Rest is essential. You’re not a machine, you don’t owe people anything, you are allowed to just be. Stop tying yourself to material gains. Relax and rest and be in your own realm without worrying what you’re delivering or earning or gaining.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Capricorn

Aquarius

January 22 to February 19

What’s blocking Aquarius’ happiness: Detachment and distance.

Aquarians are great company — very funny and smart and unique. And yet, emotional closeness can feel overwhelming for you and you’d rather just detach and go off on a new pathway than stay with feelings that have become too intense or vulnerable.

Being independent and self sufficient is a virtue, until it thwarts your relationships or isolates you. Your happiness grows when you stop treating emotional intimacy like a threat to your freedom.

Head here for everything you need to know about being an Aquarius

Pisces

February 20 to March 20

What’s blocking Pisces’ happiness: Escaping your issues instead of changing them.

You feel everything fully and deeply, which can make reality overwhelming at times. And, if given a choice, you often prioritise fantasy, avoidance, nostalgia or distraction over having to face down and deal with what’s right in front of you.

Trust yourself enough to actively create the reality you deserve. You are clever, imaginative, loving and loved. You have many allies, an army of folk who’d help you, no questions asked. Lean on them, ask for advice, create allies in different life areas. You can do this!

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Pisces

Kerry King has been reading, teaching and creating tarot for 30 years. Join her magical, exclusive Tarot Club for forecasts, predictions, lessons and readings straight to your inbox. Enjoy one month free for all Metro readers (no lock-in or commitment) over on Patreon.

Your daily Metro.co.uk horoscope is here every morning, seven days a week (yes, including weekends!). To check your forecast, head to our dedicated horoscopes page.

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These are the best places to see the Northern Lights tonight, according to the Met Office

The Met Office has revealed where in the UK could catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights on Friday night (June 5).

Forecasters say there’s a ‘good chance’ the aurora borealis could be visible across northern parts of the UK, with sightings possible as far south as northern England.

It comes after a rare merger of two solar eruptions, known as a ‘cannibal’ solar storm. According to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, this is set to spark a strong or even a severe magnetic storm around the Earth on Friday.

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The Northern Lights are caused by large explosions of activity from the sun which throw out huge amounts of charged particles into space.

When these particles are captured by the Earth’s magnetic field, they can collide with gas molecules in the atmosphere in an event called a geomagnetic storm. These collisions give off energy as light, forming spectacular colourful displays in the sky.

While typically confined to northern latitudes, the Met Office says ‘building geomagnetic activity’ could make the aurora more visible in southern latitudes, including the UK.

The Met Office said in a space weather update: “The arrival of a Coronal Mass Ejection early on 05 Jun has resulted in gradually building geomagnetic activity, which could allow for some visible aurora across northernmost geomagnetic latitudes, although viewings are likely to be limited by the light levels.

“Any further arrivals, which are low confidence, could allow for some viewings further south, potentially as far south as northern England.”

The Met Office space weather forecast suggests a ‘strong’ G3 geomagnetic storm could continue until 9am on Saturday (June 6).

Forecasts say the best areas for any aurora sightings tonight could be:

• Scotland, particularly northern and eastern regions where clearer skies are more likely for longer
• Northern Ireland, where brief clearer spells may coincide with peak activity

The Met Office said there is a lower probability for northern England, with cloud cover limiting visibility further south.

The weather agency wrote in a blog post on Friday: “An incoming coronal mass ejection (CME) is expected to drive an increase in auroral activity. As of Friday morning, the arrival timing remains uncertain, but there is an expectation of heightened activity developing through the early part of the day.

“If this increase occurs as anticipated, there is potential for the aurora borealis to be visible across Scotland and Northern Ireland, especially where skies remain clear. There is also a smaller chance that northern parts of England could catch a glimpse, although this is more marginal.

“Any enhanced activity may continue into Friday night, before gradually easing. However, forecasts of this nature can change rapidly depending on the precise arrival and strength of solar material interacting with the Earth’s magnetic field.”

More than a dozen caravans have camped on New House Farm playing field, near Blenheim Road.

A resident said the group arrived yesterday evening (June 4), with cars and caravans parked around the edge of the field.

Traveller encampment on Breightmet playing field (Image: NQ)

The Bolton News approached individuals at the site, where two women and their children were present.

One women said: “We’re just here for a few days.

“We won’t be here for long, and we’re not here to cause any trouble.”

Map showing the location of the traveller encampment on Breightmet playing field (Image: Apple Maps)

The Gypsy and Traveller way of life may involve travelling across the country and staying in different locations for varying periods in order to earn a living.

They are protected from discrimination under the Race Relations Act 1976 and the Human Rights Act 1998, alongside all ethnic groups with distinct cultures, languages, or values.

When Gypsies park their caravans and vehicles in public places such as car parks or on land where they should not, it is classed as an ‘unauthorised encampment’.

Traveller encampment on Breightmet playing field (Image: NQ)

All unauthorised encampments on Bolton council land are issued with a Code of Conduct for Unauthorised Encampments.

Yesterday, a traveller encampment that set up at Howe Bridge Leisure Centre in Atherton on June 3 was asked to move on by Wigan Council.

Bolton Council has been contacted for comment.

An estimated 80% of California votes are cast by mail and those ballots need to be sorted, validated and counted. Each county has up to 30 days after an election to count ballots, and results will not be certified until 10 July – meaning Becerra’s opponent in the November general election could take time to confirm.