Compensation rules under review after flight assault

A sexual assault on a Qatar Airways flight bound for the UK prompts debate over who qualifies for compensation.

Woman sexually assaulted on flight challenges UK rules on compensation

A woman was attacked by a fellow passenger while sleeping on a Qatar Airways flight from Doha to Gatwick in September last year. The assailant, 66-year-old Momade Jussab of Feltham, was arrested on arrival and later sentenced in May to six-and-a-half years in prison after being found guilty of one count of sexual assault by penetration and two counts of sexual assault. The victim, who wishes to remain anonymous and is referred to as Kelly, was denied a payout from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme because the plane was not registered in Britain. Leigh Day says the law is outdated and has written to the justice secretary urging reforms. The Civil Aviation Act was updated in 1996 to allow UK courts to prosecute crimes on foreign planes bound for the UK, but the compensation rules have not kept pace. A Ministry of Justice spokesperson noted that compensation rules are set by Parliament and pointed victims to other forms of support, while pushing for broader measures to address violence against women and girls.

This case highlights a mismatch between where a crime is committed and how victims are supported. The gap in the compensation rules can leave someone harmed on an international flight without redress in the country that prosecutes the crime. It also tests the government’s resolve to modernize protections for victims in a highly globalized travel system. If lawmakers choose to fix the gap, it could set a precedent for broader reform of how the CIC scheme handles crimes on foreign-registered aircraft. Critics may question whether current rules reflect fairness for victims who are British citizens and injured on international flights. The debate poses a test for ministers as they push a broader agenda to reduce violence against women and girls.

Highlights

Policy fixes are possible, but they require political will and clear legislative language.