A woman was allegedly raped on board a flight from the US to the UK, leading to the arrest of another passenger.
The man allegedly sexually assaulted the woman in business class while other passengers were sleeping on the flight from Newark, New Jersey to Heathrow, London on January 31.
They were seated in separate rows on the flight.
The woman reported the incident to cabin crew, who then called police ahead of the plane’s landing.
The 40-year-old man was led off the plane and arrested upon landing.
“Police at Heathrow Airport were alerted to an incident on an inbound flight,” a Metropolitan Police spokesperson said.
“Officers met the aircraft on arrival and arrested a 40-year-old man on suspicion of rape.”
The man was later released pending further investigations.
It’s understood the pair were unknown to each other but had been seen talking and drinking together in the lounge area.
The woman, also aged 40, is being supported by specialist officers.
