A 48-year-old man from France has been arrested after allegedly sexually assaulting his seatmate while she was sleeping on a Swiss International Air Lines flight from Zurich to Miami. Guillaume Sebastien Roger Mattler is facing charges of abusive sexual contact, according to a criminal complaint filed in the Southern District of Florida.
Incident Details
The incident occurred on Tuesday, April 28, during a flight from Switzerland to Miami. The victim, a 29-year-old woman, was seated next to Mattler in the first-class cabin of SWISS AIR LX64. According to the complaint, the woman had fallen asleep when Mattler began touching her inappropriately. At least three witnesses, including a flight attendant, saw the assault take place.
One witness reported seeing Mattler and the victim exchange brief pleasantries before she turned her back and fell asleep. Later in the flight, the same witness saw Mattler touch her lower back, initially making it appear as though his hand had slipped from the armrest. However, when the woman did not wake up, he continued the behavior and allegedly moved his hand in an attempt to get under her clothing. A second witness reported seeing Mattler’s hand moving toward her crotch, attempting to touch her between her legs.
Confrontation and Aftermath
When the flight attendant was alerted to the situation by the witnesses, she approached the victim’s seat and saw Mattler with his hand on the victim’s crotch, making a rubbing motion over her jeans. The flight attendant immediately moved Mattler to an economy seat, as he could not prove he knew the victim.
Later, when Mattler returned to retrieve his belongings, he attempted to pass the victim a note that read, “You look beautiful when you are sleeping.”
The victim was informed of the incident by the flight attendant upon waking and confirmed that she did not know Mattler. She was reportedly shocked and began shaking and crying.
Mattler’s Interview and Confession
After landing in Miami, Mattler was interviewed by authorities and initially denied touching the victim. However, after learning that multiple eyewitnesses had seen the incident and that video evidence was available, Mattler admitted to touching the woman. He downplayed the act, stating that he did not think it was “such a big deal.”
Mattler further explained that his intention had been to get the woman’s phone number and offer hers in return. He provided a note, written on his business card, which read, “You look cute when you sleep,” along with his flight details and seat number.
Legal Action
Mattler was arrested and is currently being held at the Federal Detention Center in Miami. He faces a charge of abusive sexual contact, and the case remains under investigation.
This incident has raised concerns about the safety of passengers and the importance of vigilance by both crew and fellow travelers in protecting individuals from sexual misconduct during flights.
