A deputy U.S. Marshal is accused of getting drunk and sexually assaulting a woman during a transatlantic flight.
Citing four law enforcement officials, NBC News reported that the U.S. Marshal was allegedly inappropriately touching a female passenger on the flight from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City to Heathrow Airport in London, England.
A spokesperson for Delta Air Lines also confirmed the incident.
“Due to unruly passenger behavior while in flight, Delta Flight 1, JFK to London-Heathrow, was met by local law enforcement upon landing, and Delta is cooperating with their investigation,” the spokesperson told Business Insider.
The marshal is reportedly 39 years old.
The federal marshal — who had not yet been named — was reportedly traveling to London with a colleague to extradite a suspect facing federal fraud-related charges back to Brooklyn, New York.
During the Delta Air Lines flight, the marshal allegedly inappropriately touched a female passenger.
The U.S. Marshals Service said in a statement that the officer had “engaged in serious alleged misconduct while intoxicated on an inbound flight from New York City (JFK) on December 5, 2023.”
A spokesperson for the U.S. Marshals Service said that the deputy allegedly “exhibited inappropriate behavior while intoxicated” aboard the flight.
“The U.S. Marshals Service takes seriously any allegations of misconduct by its employees. The alleged actions of the employees do not reflect the professionalism of the thousands of employees of the USMS or its core values,” the statement said.
London’s Metropolitan Police said it received a report at 6:30 a.m., and the marshal had been disruptive and “sexually assaulted other passengers and crew.”
The suspect was reportedly arrested on suspicion of sexual assault and is still in custody.
Two law enforcement sources claimed the two federal marshals — who are assigned to the Eastern District of New York — had been drinking during the flight.
The second marshal was not facing any charges and was sent back to New York on Wednesday night.
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