‘I just froze, I was scared’
A Malaysia Airlines crew member is being questioned by French police after he allegedly assaulted an Australian woman on a Paris-bound flight.
The troubled airline has issued a statement assuring passengers that it demands “the highest standards of conduct” from crew.
The 26-year-old alleged victim has told her story to the Seven Network.
“I couldn’t stop it, I just froze, I was just scared,” she has told the network.
“I keep saying `why didn’t I scream, why didn’t I shout? Why didn’t I stop it?’
“I am a strong person because I can do that, I know I can but when I was in the moment I couldn’t.
“I felt so scared, so petrified.”
She said that three hours into the flight, a steward sat next to her and began massaging her legs, and later put his hand down her pants.
Shaky mobile phone footage apparently recorded by the woman after the alleged assault shows a staff member sitting across from her, clasping his hands together.
“You did, you did, you did, don’t lie. It’s what you did,” the woman can be heard telling him.
Malaysia Airlines on Friday said it was aware of allegations of “inappropriate sexual behaviour” levelled against a cabin crew member aboard flight MH20 on August 4.
“(The) member of staff in question has been detained for questioning by the French police,” the company said.
“Malaysia Airlines expects and accepts nothing short of the highest standards of conduct from its crew and takes any such allegations very seriously.”