2025-08-20T08:07:21Z

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What if your nine-hour flight turned into a nightmare, leaving you feeling vulnerable and betrayed? That’s exactly what happened to a 15-year-old girl on a Swiss flight, where a married businessman took advantage of her while she slept.

In a harrowing case that has left many questioning the safety of air travel, a 44-year-old man was convicted of sexually assaulting a teenage girl during a flight from Mumbai to Zurich. This disturbing incident, which unfolded in March, has sparked a broader conversation about consent and the legal definitions of sexual assault.

The flight was meant to be a simple journey, but it turned dark when the girl, seated next to the man, fell asleep after a brief and seemingly harmless conversation. While she slumbered, the businessman committed unforgivable acts against her, reportedly engaging in sexual behaviors that he later confessed to in the Bülach District Court.

His admission was shocking: “I realized I made a mistake,” he said, acknowledging that the young girl had not given consent. This moment of clarity comes amid a significant shift in Swiss law, which recently adopted the principle of ‘no means no’ in sexual assault cases. This law, which came into effect just a year ago, expanded the definition of rape to encompass any situation where the victim clearly indicates they do not consent, whether through words or actions.

Before this amendment, the legal system often required evidence of violence or threats for a rape conviction, which left many victims feeling unsupported. Now, the law recognizes that the mere state of shock or fear from a victim can signal rejection, making it clearer that consent must be explicit.

In this particular case, the businessman was convicted of both rape and sexual acts with a child. He received a suspended sentence of 1.5 years, which he will not need to serve since he has been in custody since the incident. The judge described the sentence as ‘barely appropriate,’ highlighting a judicial sentiment that perhaps such leniency doesn’t fully address the gravity of the crime.

As part of his punishment, the man is banned from entering Switzerland for the next five years and will be prohibited from any activities involving regular contact with minors for life. Moreover, the legal proceedings are estimated to cost him around CHF 9,000, with the confiscated CHF 1,360 being utilized to cover those expenses. After the trial, he was released from custody but handed over to the Migration Office for deportation, potentially leaving behind a shattered family and a young girl whose safety was violated.