AP
An airport official says a flight was diverted to the Seattle area after a male passenger aboard an Alaska Airlines flight tried to kiss a sleeping girl seated 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 confirmed that 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 before landing.
The Alaska Airlines flight was heading to Anchorage, Alaska, from Portland, Ore. 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.
The incident comes amid several disrupted Alaska Airlines flights due to passenger behavior.
In March, Alaska Airlines passengers headed to Portland received a $100 airline voucher when a flight was diverted due to a rowdy, drunk flier. And last month, a female Alaska Airlines passenger says she was molested by another woman while flying from Las Vegas to Portland.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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