FBI investigating woman's claim she was groped on United flight

Federal officials are looking into a passenger's claim she was groped while aboard a United Airlines flight on Tuesday.

According to WSOC-TV, the woman was flying from New Jersey to Charlotte, N.C., when she says the man seated next to her groped her.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police told the publication the FBI is investigating because the incident allegedly occurred in-air.

Sources told the outlet a woman who appeared to be in her 30s reported that the man seated next to her put his hands between her legs and groped her. The two were reportedly separated by a flight attendant.

WSOC-TV later learned that the man believed to have sexually assaulted the woman is a 73-year-old from Lithuania.

He reportedly told investigators his hand fell on the woman's lap because of turbulence.

Another passenger aboard the flight told WSOC-TV she saw a commotion in the back of the plane after what had been a turbulent flight. She recalled a flight attendant warning everyone to stay seated until police boarded.

The suspect was reportedly escorted off the plane.

"They said, 'Ladies and gentlemen, please stay in your seats. We have not been cleared to deboard the plane until authorities arrive," Genevieve Becker said.

"I'm sure a woman knows the difference between a hand hitting her versus being groped," another traveler, Sherrell Ealy, said.

This is the second such incident reported aboard a Charlotte-bound flight.

"I think some of these people should be checked, if they've been drinking, and not be allowed on a flight," Denise Bingham, another airline passenger, suggested to WSOC-TV.

Data uncovered by the outlet showed that sexual assault aboard airplanes is becoming an issue more and more.

In the 2014 fiscal year, the FBI was called in to investigate 38 such cases. In 2016, they responded to 57 cases.

This year has seen a 65 percent increase in airline sexual assaults.