Man allegedly masturbates to porn while seated next to a woman during flight

Elly Shariat. Photo / Facebook

Southwest Airlines is investigating claims a passenger was openly masturbating to porn during a flight.

Elly Shariat, founder of ShariatPR, was travelling aboard the flight from Las Vegas to Philadelphia on Tuesday when she says that the passenger in the seat next to her began masturbating.

'I've spent this entire flight sitting next to a guy who has his iPad open on the tray table, watching porn, WITHOUT using headphones or anything, and twice now his body has started shaking in the throes of his orgasmic bliss. I'm so disgusted,' she tweeted to Southwest Airlines while still aboard the flight.

Uhh @SouthwestAir we have an issue. I’ve spent this entire flight sitting next to a guy who has his iPad open on the tray table, watching porn, WITHOUT using headphones or anything, and twice now his body has started shaking in the throes of his orgasmic bliss. I’m so disgusted. pic.twitter.com/3an0ukXXyt

— the real elly-ice™ 🌶 (@shariatPR) May 29, 2018

Shariat claims the incident continued for almost five hours, during which time he exposed his penis. She also said that that he had passed his used napkins to a flight attendant.

A rep for Southwest responded on Twitter, telling her to alert a flight attendant.

This is never something that we want to have happen on our flights. Please be sure to reach out to one of the Flight Attendants onboard your flight. -Heather

— Southwest Airlines (@SouthwestAir) May 29, 2018

There’s literally no way to do that without putting myself at risk. He’s in the window seat. I’m in the middle. And there’s someone dead asleep to my left. I can’t move. Which is why I purchased WiFi to tweet you.

— the real elly-ice™ 🌶 (@shariatPR) May 29, 2018

But she claimed she couldn't tell a flight attendant on the plane without 'putting myself at risk' because the person in the aisle seat was asleep. It's not clear why she was unwilling or unable to wake them.

The rep responded: 'If you feel more comfortable, you can speak to the Crew once you land. We want to be able to help, and the best way to do so is to contact the Crew directly onboard your flight.'

Shariat responded sarcastically that she would stay aboard and wait to speak to a member of staff, after the plane had landed, 'because that's exactly what someone who is being assaulted like this wants to do.'

Southwest later followed up with the passenger, messaging her: 'I'm so sorry you had such an unpleasant flight, especially since you feel we should have done more to address this situation.'

Shariat says she reported the incident to staff after the plane landed, but not before one final horrific incident.

She claims the masturbator was leaving the plane when he patted her head and told her: 'Hope you enjoyed the show'.

Twitter users were swift to question the claims, sparking arguments in the thread.

I cannot believe how many people are buying this completely fake story. iPad on the tray in plain sight with volume on and no one noticed? You couldn't get up because it would risk your safety? Total BS.

— It doesn’t matter what your name is (@TravisMelo73) May 30, 2018

You had a phone, u could’ve taken a pic or vid. With a vid u wouldn’t even have to aim it at him, u could’ve jst hit rec, we’d see u were on a plane & hear that some1 next to u was watching porn. And staying seated 4hrs bc u didn’t want to crawl over a sleeping person? I call bs.

— Luminus (@Luminusssss) May 30, 2018

Southwest didn’t “allow” this to happen. If you see something, say something. Someone tweeting in another state sure can’t do something as quick as the crew could have. The guy was breaking the law and she let him get away with it-that’s what’s upsetting here!

— Angie (@mrs_captnmerica) May 30, 2018

Sorry, but the solution here is really easy. You wake the sleeping passenger and say that you need to use the restroom. You get up and go talk to a flight attendant and ask to be moved. This isn't rocket science, and it doesn't put you in danger. #FakeNews

— Erick Robertson (@ErickRobertson) May 30, 2018

So the lesson for today is
1. Don't fly Southwest Air EVER.
2. You can be forced to watch a nasty dude whack it on a flight and it's cool for him to pat you on the head afterwards.a
3. Southwests' best advice is switch seats if your uncomfortable with being sexually harassed.

— Shay Revolver (@ShayRevolver) May 30, 2018

Shariat said she was initially offered just a dinner voucher over the incident, but is now speaking with representatives who have launched an investigation.

For everyone following the tweets about my sexual assault aboard @SouthwestAir today, THIS IS SOUTHWEST’S RESPONSE:
“... especially since you feel we should have done more to address this situation.” OMFG @CNN @BrookeBCNN halp!! pic.twitter.com/tqab8qnYv8

— the real elly-ice™ 🌶 (@shariatPR) May 29, 2018

A rep for the airline told TMZ: 'We're looking into reports that a Customer was viewing material deemed inappropriate by another Customer. At this time we have nothing further to share.'

I didn’t? Why don’t you stop assuming nonsense. That’s airport police getting all my info to type up a report for SVU. But thanks a lot for playing. pic.twitter.com/lMYN72sPpU

— the real elly-ice™ 🌶 (@shariatPR) May 30, 2018

- Additional reporting by NZ Herald