Official: Plane Diverted After Man Tries To Kiss Sleeping Teenage Girl

SEATTLE (CBSNewYork/AP) -- An official says a flight was diverted to the Seattle area after a man tried to kiss a sleeping girl next to him on the airplane.

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport spokesman Perry Cooper said Tuesday that Port of Seattle police arrested the 23-year-old California man for investigation of fourth-degree assault.

Cooper says the man attempted to kiss a 16-year-old girl who was sleeping next to him. The pilot was notified and reported it to police.

The Alaska Airlines flight was heading to Anchorage, Alaska, from Portland, Oregon. The girl remained on the plane when it later departed for Anchorage.

Cooper says the man was cooperative when he was arrested. He is expected to be booked into King County Jail.

Last week, a 35-year-old man was charged after being accused of fondling a passenger on a flight from Israel to Newark Liberty International Airport.

Yoel Oberlander, of Monsey, was charged by federal prosecutors with one count of abusive sexual contact on an airplane, according to New Jersey U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman.

Prosecutors alleged that Oberlander was seated next to the female passenger and her mother on an El Al flight from Tel Aviv to Newark on Sunday, May 29. He repeatedly put his hand on the girl's thigh and breast without her consent, prosecutors alleged.

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