BOSTON — A man was arrested and charged Wednesday for allegedly exposing himself and masturbating in view of two passengers on a flight from Abu Dhabi to Boston, federal authorities said.
Krishna Kunapuli, 39, of India, was taken into custody and charged with lewd, indecent, and obscene acts within the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States. He is set to appear in federal court in Boston later today, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Charging documents state that Kunapuli allegedly made unwelcome advances towards a female passenger on the Etihad Airlines flight, including touching her hair and taking her photograph without her consent. A flight attendant intervened, and Kunapuli returned to his seat.
Later in the flight, two male passengers noticed Kunapuli masturbating under a blanket, with his genitals exposed at times, according to the complaint. One of the witnesses informed a flight attendant, who notified law enforcement officials upon landing.
If convicted, Kunapuli faces up to 90 days in prison, up to a year of supervised release, and a fine of up to $5,000, authorities said. Sentencing decisions will be made based on federal guidelines and statutes governing criminal cases.