Passenger Sues Airline Employee Who Took Her Number From Her Luggage Tag And Sent Her Creepy Texts
The vast majority of us are concerned about our safety whenever we travel by plane. But most of us are worried about technical failure or flying into a thunderstorm, not about the people working for the airlines.
One woman had such a harrowing experience with an American Airlines employee that she filed a lawsuit against him for sexual harassment, stalking, and inflicting emotional distress. A man who introduced himself as Ahmad got Ashley Barno’s number from her luggage tag, texted her over 100 times, and even followed her on the plane from San Diego.
Barno’s also suing American Airlines for hiring him and whose other employees had been aware that this wasn’t the first time that Ahmad acted this way. Bored Panda reached out to American Airlines to clear up a few questions we had. Scroll down for the interview.
Ashley Barno became the victim of unwanted advances when an American Airlines employee got her phone number from her luggage tag
Image credits: Ashley Barno
Here are some of the messages he sent her. He also followed her on the plane and allegedly sent her suggestive images
Image credits: Ashley Barno
Ahmad was escorted off the plane when it landed in Chicago after Barno talked to a flight attendant who “was helpful and nice and kind enough to make sure she got home OK,” her attorney Joe Samo said. The very same helpful employee confirmed to Barno that staff members were aware of Ahmad and what he does.
According to Samo, his client still feels nervous when traveling by plane, even though the event with Ahmad took place in April 2019. American Airlines fired the employee after this particular incident. Company spokesman Joshua Freed had this to say: “The employee involved in the complaint is no longer employed at American Airlines.” It’s unclear if Ahmad is the man’s real name or if he was using it to protect his identity.
The lawsuit includes information that Ahmad allegedly also sent Barno suggestive images. Because of all of this, Barno had to seek professional help because she had problems sleeping, eating, and socializing with her loved ones. The first hearing for the case will occur in June 2020, so it’ll still be a while before we find out the results of the lawsuit.
“Basically, after this happened, her sense of privacy is heightened, her concern about who has her number and now she is concerned when she has to give it out,” her attorney Samo told the media. “She is nervous when she is alone and has to travel for work.”
But it’s not just passengers who can be harassed while on flights. A lot of flight attendants also become the targets of unwanted advances and abuse.
Flight attendants get harassed too
The Association of Flight Attendants states that a shocking 68 percent of flight attendants experienced sexual harassment during their careers. 35 percent experienced verbal sexual harassment from passengers in the last year. And of those, 68 percent faced it three or more times. While a third faced it five or more times in the past year.
Meanwhile, 18 percent of flight attendants experienced physical sexual harassment from passengers in the last year. The staff who were harassed said that they had their intimate areas “touched, felt, pulled, grabbed, groped, slapped, rubbed, and fondled.” Some passengers cornered them, lunged at them, gave them hugs, kisses, and even humped them. The saddest part is that 68 percent of flight attendants mentioned that they didn’t notice their employers addressing harassment at work over the past year.
The employee “was not on duty for American at the time” of the incident
When contacted by Bored Panda, American Airlines highlighted that the company “takes the privacy and safety of our customers seriously” and noted that they took action when faced with the situation.
“We investigated the allegations and took appropriate action.”
A representative of American Airlines also confirmed to Bored Panda that the employee in question had been fired: “The employee involved in the complaint is no longer employed at American Airlines.”
What’s more, the company said that the employee “was not on duty for American at the time” of the incident.
This is how some internet users reacted to the story
She's not blocking his number because the texts are evidence. She had no way of knowing if he would escalate.
Did he text her over 100 times on that one flight, or did he carry on after being escorted off the plane?
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"Why didn't she block after the second text?" Well, then he'd still be harassing others?
It also deflects the blame off of the predator instead of the victim. He should've NEVER taken her number from her luggage, period. That is the only action that matters.
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Ladies, take note of the "men's" comments. This is a prevelent problem and can only be "solved" by US (females) and our allies. Men with this attitude show it early, do not give them the time of day. Look for men who respect themselves and others, the "bad boy" does not want to be "fixed". Men and women: respect yourself and others, when you see something wrong STAND UP for yourself and others. (if he had been reported/ sued earlier maybe this would not have happened to her.)
Stalking is a long romantic walk between two people, but only one of them is aware of it. Dude needs to be on some sort of registry to warn other women to stay away.
Frankly, this has little to do with the airline, and sueing the airline is ridiculous. This is rather plain stalking, and should be promptly handled by the police. No need to boast with it on social media, either.
It appears the airline knew this guy made a habit of stalking passengers and did nothing till she filed a case. THAT is why the airline should be sued.
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As for the predator, it doesn't even have to be an employee of the airline for that matter. Most predators are very keen individuals, who are very perceptive and diligent about acquiring info they want in regards to possible targets and their tactics are very covert and not always easily identified. If info is available on the luggage tags, it wouldn't be hard for a predator to obtain it. They eat, sleep, and breathe, these activities on a daily basis. For the ppl whose lives have been previously untouched by one, you are very ill prepared to deal with one of these ppl. They will gather their intel and often leave a victim with the wind knocked out of them and reeling in a tailspin. While some are just the quick hit or miss predators, that seem to be more about quantity over quality. Nevertheless, they can be very damaging with the effects they leave behind as well. There are a few non-negotiable rules for a human beings life that shouldn't be violated, but once they have, the human psyche will have to pick up the pieces and put them back together for that person. Some can process more quickly, some compartmentalize, some have to take it all apart and go thru it. There's no wrong way. It depends on the individual. Others should respect the process of the individual tho. They are dealing with it the only way they know how. Some public, some private. Hopefully helping others.
I think she conversed with him for too long. If all passengers, effected by his harassment, complained to the airlines, his employment should be terminated. However, would people like he ever stop if not seriously punished?
to hack any website, email, mobile phone, change your grades, examination hacks, recovery of password, find someone's password(friend, wife, boss, gf or bf) to know if they are cheating or not..........contact: mtravis039@gmailcom
For the non believers, ppl who have endured traumas of this nature, have many times been left with lasting psychological disorders. Anxiety disorder, depression, OCD, and often PTSD, none of which are joking matters. Unless you've experienced sexual harassment, stalking, or sexual assault, you couldn't possibly fathom what world that human being is living in after such an ordeal.
Why is his name Ahmad??? Us Muslims are already under extreme scrutiny! We already face prejudice and stereotypes! For God's sake, after the election of Trump, girls were getting kidnapped and raped left and right! We don't need loser a******s like genius over there to go around ruining our collective reputation further!!!!
I would imagine his name is Ahmad because that's what his parents decided to call him. There are plenty of cases, I'm sure, of guys called Tom (for example) stalking people. Although (if you're serious) I understand the point that people will pick up on that and blame Islam, when they wouldn't blame Christianity for Tom's actions.
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"What’s more, the company said that the employee “was not on duty for American at the time” of the incident." That doesn't make things any better for the victim, it's only AA trying to cover their a$$. Besides, other AA employees knew of his other harassment actions and victims so AA is ultimately responsible.
Makes me wonder where and how he got close enough to read her phone number on her bag. Did he just nosey through the overhead locker for it?
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Never check luggage? That's not an option for many. How about if companies stopped tolerating creepers in their ranks so we wouldn't have to stand on our heads to avoid being harassed while going about our business?
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She's doing a good thing for everyone who could have been harassed in the future. And for all the companies that will maybe now think twice before they ignore repeated complaints at a certain employee who's doing something like this to people. It's courageous and I admire her. If she gets some money out of it in the end (from a pocket of a wealthy company) - even better. She deserves it.
Load More Replies...
What do her looks have to do with anything?! Anything at all?! "She's not that good looking" as in "she should be grateful he harassed her"? Or what?
Load More Replies...
Because women NEVER get harassed, stalked, attacked, murdered, etc. We NEVER see that in the news. And then people say, "but she didn't do anything abboouutt it."
Load More Replies... She's not blocking his number because the texts are evidence. She had no way of knowing if he would escalate.
Did he text her over 100 times on that one flight, or did he carry on after being escorted off the plane?
Load More Replies... "Why didn't she block after the second text?" Well, then he'd still be harassing others?
It also deflects the blame off of the predator instead of the victim. He should've NEVER taken her number from her luggage, period. That is the only action that matters.
Load More Replies... Ladies, take note of the "men's" comments. This is a prevelent problem and can only be "solved" by US (females) and our allies. Men with this attitude show it early, do not give them the time of day. Look for men who respect themselves and others, the "bad boy" does not want to be "fixed". Men and women: respect yourself and others, when you see something wrong STAND UP for yourself and others. (if he had been reported/ sued earlier maybe this would not have happened to her.)
Stalking is a long romantic walk between two people, but only one of them is aware of it. Dude needs to be on some sort of registry to warn other women to stay away.
Frankly, this has little to do with the airline, and sueing the airline is ridiculous. This is rather plain stalking, and should be promptly handled by the police. No need to boast with it on social media, either.
It appears the airline knew this guy made a habit of stalking passengers and did nothing till she filed a case. THAT is why the airline should be sued.
Load More Replies... As for the predator, it doesn't even have to be an employee of the airline for that matter. Most predators are very keen individuals, who are very perceptive and diligent about acquiring info they want in regards to possible targets and their tactics are very covert and not always easily identified. If info is available on the luggage tags, it wouldn't be hard for a predator to obtain it. They eat, sleep, and breathe, these activities on a daily basis. For the ppl whose lives have been previously untouched by one, you are very ill prepared to deal with one of these ppl. They will gather their intel and often leave a victim with the wind knocked out of them and reeling in a tailspin. While some are just the quick hit or miss predators, that seem to be more about quantity over quality. Nevertheless, they can be very damaging with the effects they leave behind as well. There are a few non-negotiable rules for a human beings life that shouldn't be violated, but once they have, the human psyche will have to pick up the pieces and put them back together for that person. Some can process more quickly, some compartmentalize, some have to take it all apart and go thru it. There's no wrong way. It depends on the individual. Others should respect the process of the individual tho. They are dealing with it the only way they know how. Some public, some private. Hopefully helping others.
I think she conversed with him for too long. If all passengers, effected by his harassment, complained to the airlines, his employment should be terminated. However, would people like he ever stop if not seriously punished?
to hack any website, email, mobile phone, change your grades, examination hacks, recovery of password, find someone's password(friend, wife, boss, gf or bf) to know if they are cheating or not..........contact: mtravis039@gmailcom
For the non believers, ppl who have endured traumas of this nature, have many times been left with lasting psychological disorders. Anxiety disorder, depression, OCD, and often PTSD, none of which are joking matters. Unless you've experienced sexual harassment, stalking, or sexual assault, you couldn't possibly fathom what world that human being is living in after such an ordeal.
Why is his name Ahmad??? Us Muslims are already under extreme scrutiny! We already face prejudice and stereotypes! For God's sake, after the election of Trump, girls were getting kidnapped and raped left and right! We don't need loser a******s like genius over there to go around ruining our collective reputation further!!!!
I would imagine his name is Ahmad because that's what his parents decided to call him. There are plenty of cases, I'm sure, of guys called Tom (for example) stalking people. Although (if you're serious) I understand the point that people will pick up on that and blame Islam, when they wouldn't blame Christianity for Tom's actions.
Load More Replies... "What’s more, the company said that the employee “was not on duty for American at the time” of the incident." That doesn't make things any better for the victim, it's only AA trying to cover their a$$. Besides, other AA employees knew of his other harassment actions and victims so AA is ultimately responsible.
Makes me wonder where and how he got close enough to read her phone number on her bag. Did he just nosey through the overhead locker for it?
Load More Replies... Never check luggage? That's not an option for many. How about if companies stopped tolerating creepers in their ranks so we wouldn't have to stand on our heads to avoid being harassed while going about our business?
Load More Replies... She's doing a good thing for everyone who could have been harassed in the future. And for all the companies that will maybe now think twice before they ignore repeated complaints at a certain employee who's doing something like this to people. It's courageous and I admire her. If she gets some money out of it in the end (from a pocket of a wealthy company) - even better. She deserves it.
Load More Replies... What do her looks have to do with anything?! Anything at all?! "She's not that good looking" as in "she should be grateful he harassed her"? Or what?
Load More Replies... Because women NEVER get harassed, stalked, attacked, murdered, etc. We NEVER see that in the news. And then people say, "but she didn't do anything abboouutt it."
Load More Replies...
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