An American Airlines passenger is under investigation after authorities say she stripped off her pants and began performing a sexual act on herself during a flight from Baltimore to Miami.
Katy Inzer, 46, of Maryland, allegedly caused the bizarre disturbance aboard American Airlines Flight 1779 on Sept. 11 while the plane was headed to Miami International Airport.
According to a Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office incident report obtained through a public-records request, a male passenger alerted a flight attendant roughly 20 minutes into the trip after allegedly witnessing Inzer remove her pants and begin masturbating while making inappropriate noises.
The passenger, identified in the report as a 61-year-old man, later provided investigators with a written statement describing what he said he witnessed.
A flight attendant approached Inzer and instructed her to put her pants back on, according to authorities.
She allegedly complied without further incident and eventually fell asleep for the remainder of the flight.
The plane landed in Miami at approximately 11:23 p.m., where law enforcement officers were waiting after being called about a disturbance aboard the aircraft.
Deputies said Inzer appeared intoxicated during their interview, noting what the report described as a strong smell of alcohol and bloodshot eyes.
Inzer reportedly told investigators that her flight out of Baltimore had been delayed for about two hours and that she had consumed several alcoholic drinks before boarding.
When deputies questioned her about what allegedly happened after takeoff, Inzer said she could not remember the incident because she had fallen asleep, according to the report.
American Airlines confirmed that law enforcement met the flight because of what the carrier described as a disruptive passenger.
“The individual was removed from the aircraft,” the airline said in a statement previously provided to USA Today, adding that the safety of passengers and employees remained its top priority. The airline also thanked crew members for their professionalism.
The case did not end with local authorities.
Because the alleged behavior occurred while the aircraft was in flight between Maryland and Florida, the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office determined that the matter should be forwarded to the FBI, which has jurisdiction over many crimes committed aboard commercial aircraft.
As of Oct. 6, there was no public indication that Inzer had been arrested or formally charged in connection with the incident.
The U.S. Department of Transportation considers public indecent exposure one form of in-flight sexual misconduct and advises passengers who encounter sexual misconduct to immediately notify a flight attendant or airline representative. Travelers can also contact law enforcement after landing or report incidents directly to federal authorities.
The federal government has increasingly called attention to sexual misconduct aboard commercial aircraft.
The FBI reported investigating 104 cases involving sexual assault aboard aircraft in 2024, up from 96 cases opened in 2023. Those statistics involve sexual assault allegations and are not necessarily comparable to the allegations involving Inzer, but they highlight the FBI’s broader responsibility for investigating suspected crimes in the air.
Federal officials have also warned that some incidents may never be reported, meaning the true number could be higher.
The Inzer investigation comes amid another recent allegation involving a commercial flight.
Earlier in September, a United Airlines passenger reportedly complained that a man sitting next to her masturbated during a flight from Rochester, New York, to Newark, New Jersey.
Inzer has denied no allegations publicly but reportedly declined to comment when contacted about the American Airlines incident.
The FBI has not publicly announced whether the investigation remains active or whether prosecutors are considering charges.
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