An alarming incident aboard a flight from Abu Dhabi to Boston has resulted in a guilty plea from Krishna Kunapuli, a 39-year-old Indian man. He admitted to committing lewd, indecent, or obscene acts on the aircraft. Kunapuli was subsequently sentenced to two years of probation and fined $5,000. According to an announcement from the U.S. Attorney's Office by Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy, Kunapuli was also ordered to delete photographs he took of a female passenger during the flight in the presence of law enforcement, and he is prohibited from contacting her.
The details of the case, as outlined by the federal authorities, suggest Kunapuli perpetrated unwanted sexual advances towards a female passenger, which included touching her hair and photographing her without consent. His disturbing behavior escalated when he exposed himself and was seen masturbating by two male passengers. Those passenger alerted the flight crew, who intervened and later informed law enforcement.
In the courtroom, U.S. Magistrate Judge David H. Hennessy handed down the sentence after Kunapuli pleaded guilty on Oct. 24 to one count of lewd behavior. The sentence aims to penalize and deter such inappropriate conduct.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division, led by Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen, along with the Massachusetts State Police under Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, collaborated in responding to this aviation incident. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elianna J. Nuzum of the Major Crimes Unit
