And other travel news you may have missed.
This week in travel, we’ve uncovered several stories that might have flown under your radar. Among them: passengers of a downed plane spent 36 hours in alligator-infested waters; the president of a prestigious museum has stepped down after allegedly stripping on a flight; and a tourist received 80 stitches after impaling himself outside the Colosseum.
Dive into these and more as we examine the latest in travel news.
NO.1
WOMAN SUES AMERICAN AIRLINES AFTER IT BLAMES HER FOR ASSAULT
In 2024, California-based Barbara Morgan alleged she was sexually assaulted on a flight from San Francisco to Dallas. She was in a middle seat when she says Cherian Abraham touched her inappropriately, and she yelled at him twice to make him stop. After the flight, she reported the incident to American Airlines staff at the gate, but they questioned why she didn’t complain on the plane. She also filed a report on the website and submitted a complaint to the director of customer relations, the vice president of reservations, and even the CEO. She received no support or follow-up. In May, a representative of the airline called her but blamed her for not reporting it during the flight, she said.
Continue Reading Article After Our Video
Recommended Fodor’s Video
This March, Abraham was arrested after his third reported sexual assault on a flight. After the Federal Bureau of Investigation contacted Morgan, she found out that the first complaint against the alleged attacker was made in 2023. Now she’s suing the airline for negligence, fraudulent concealment, and infliction of emotional distress.
Her attorney, Patrick J. Driscoll, said, “The FBI and American Airlines passengers have repeatedly warned the airline that inflight sexual assaults are occurring on American Airlines flights—and American Airlines has had every opportunity to take those warnings seriously. Instead, they’ve turned a blind eye, leaving passengers vulnerable at 30,000 feet. This isn’t just a failure of policy; it’s a failure of basic responsibility.”
Related: American Airlines Sued Over Passenger’s Alleged Disgusting Behavior
NO.2
AMERICAN TOURIST IMPALES HIMSELF WHILE CLIMBING A FENCE IN ROME
A 47-year-old American tourist based in Taiwan attempted to climb a fence at the Colosseum, Rome’s popular attraction. However, he impaled himself on the fence and screamed until he lost consciousness and hung lifelessly. Alarmed onlookers called for help, and paramedics took 20 minutes to free the man. He was taken to a nearby hospital with serious injuries and received 80 stitches after the metal railing pierced his spine. The man is in stable condition now, and his friends have been questioned about why he climbed the fence.
NO.3
POWER OUTAGE CRIPPLES TRAVEL IN SPAIN AND PORTUGAL
Last week, a massive power outage stopped Spain and Portugal in their tracks. Grocery stores couldn’t accept cards; people were stuck in elevators; tourists were locked out of their Airbnbs; trains stopped, and passengers were stranded for hours; over 500 flights were canceled, affecting 80,000 passengers. The internet was also disrupted, while people ran out of battery on their phones. The Spanish government advised people to stay at home and avoid calling emergency services. The blackout caused major disruptions for days in the two countries, and the cause is still under investigation.
NO.4
FIVE PEOPLE RESCUED FROM ALLIGATOR-INFESTED SWAMP
In a miraculous story, five people survived in an alligator-infested swamp in the Amazon after their plane’s engine failed halfway into the flight. The plane crashed into a lagoon while flying to the city of Trinidad in Bolivia from the village of Baures in the north. There were five people on board, including three women, a child, and the pilot, who spent 36 hours on top of the flipped plane after it flooded. They survived on cassava flour that a passenger was carrying, and the pilot told reporters that alligators and snakes watched them all night but didn’t attack.
They were surrounded by alligators, so they couldn’t move or drink any water, which was contaminated by gasoline. Thankfully, fishermen spotted them, and they were eventually rescued by an army helicopter. They are all in stable condition and recovering from dehydration, infected cuts, insect bites, bruises, and minor chemical burns.
NO.5
ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO PRESIDENT UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR ALLEGEDLY STRIPPING ON A FLIGHT
In a shocking incident, the Art Institute of Chicago’s president and director, James Rondeau, is taking voluntary leave after the prestigious art museum opened an investigation into him. On May 2, he allegedly stripped on a United Airlines flight from Chicago to Munich after consuming prescription medications and alcohol. Police were also informed about the incident.
The institute confirmed the investigation and said that Rondeau is back in Chicago. “The Art Institute takes this very seriously and has opened an independent investigation into the incident to gather all available information.”