Trump administration task force to study airline policies around sexual misconduct

The Department of Transportation announced Thursday it would establish the National In-Flight Sexual Misconduct Task Force to review existing procedures regarding acts of sexual misconduct by flight passengers. 

The task force will report to the newly revived Aviation Consumer Protection Advisory Committee (ACPAC).

“The Task Force will review current practices, protocols and requirements of U.S. airlines in responding to and reporting allegations of sexual misconduct by passengers on board aircraft.  It will also provide recommendations to the ACPAC on best practices relating to training, reporting, and data collection regarding incidents of sexual misconduct by passengers onboard commercial aircraft,” the department said in a press release.

The FBI declared earlier this year that sexual assaults conducted on flights are increasing “at an alarming rate.” 

Concern over sexual misconduct by airplane passengers has been highlighted as a concern after the #MeToo movement sparked a national dialogue regarding sexual assault and sexism.