Officials: Man Faces Federal Charges After Masturbating On Charlotte Bound Flight

CHARLOTTE, NC — Officials have charged a man on an American Airlines flight from New York to Charlotte after they say he was caught masturbating on the plane.

According to documents filed with the court on Monday, 40-year-old Arthur Fischer was on the August 25th AA flight 1775 when it left New York at 1:14pm heading for Charlotte. Shortly after take off, multiple witnesses seated across the isle said they saw Fischer pull down the window shade and place a vest over his lap.

One witness says that at that time Fischer began moving his hand and leg around, and then getting tissue from his bag and putting it under the vest. Then the movement stopped. The witness says it was obvious what Fischer was doing and he was making no effort to hide it.

Other witnesses, a mother and her adult son, say that during the decent Fischer again slid down in his seat and began rubbing the outside of his pants. They say he then put his hand inside his pants and exposed himself.

In an interview with FBI officials, Fischer admitted to getting an erection after takeoff and covering himself with the vest. He says that he wiped himself with wipes because “he smelled bad.” Fischer also admits that he could have exposed himself because he felt a “breeze on it.”

Fischer now faces federal charges for obscene or indecent exposure and engaging in masturbation in public and on an aircraft.