Singapore: An Indian national has been sentenced to six months in jail after molesting a Singapore Airlines flight attendant and later harassing her during a flight from Bangkok to Singapore earlier this year.
The sentence was delivered by a Singapore court on June 22, 2026, bringing to a close a case that began with an in-flight incident aboard a Singapore Airlines service operating from Bangkok, Thailand, to Singapore on February 9, 2026.
Akash Tiwari, 35, pleaded guilty to one charge of molestation and one charge of harassment. In addition to the jail term, the court ordered him to pay S$1,270.95 in compensation to the victim. Court records showed that he would serve an additional five days in jail if the compensation is not paid.
According to court proceedings, Tiwari was travelling with four friends on the Singapore-bound flight. Prosecutors told the court that the group behaved rowdily during the journey and repeatedly waved frantically and laughed whenever female cabin crew members walked past their seats.
The incident began before departure from Bangkok when a female flight attendant approached the group to confirm their meal selections. During the interaction, Tiwari stretched out his arm and brushed against the flight attendant’s left upper thigh. Prosecutors said he laughed immediately afterward, while his friends also laughed at the incident.
Disturbed by the behavior, the flight attendant reported the matter to the chief stewardess. To avoid further contact, she was reassigned to another aisle to continue serving passengers.
However, the misconduct continued later in the flight while the flight attendant was collecting meal trays. Prosecutors said Tiwari deliberately used his left elbow to make contact with her buttock. The crew member immediately told him not to touch her.
Instead of apologizing, Tiwari reportedly smirked at her. The victim became increasingly distressed and again warned him to stop.
The flight attendant subsequently informed the chief stewardess, and both crew members confronted Tiwari regarding the incident. Court documents stated that he remained unapologetic and insisted he had done nothing wrong.
As the aircraft began preparations for arrival in Singapore, the captain made an announcement instructing the cabin crew to prepare for landing. The flight attendant then proceeded to the galley while the chief stewardess informed her supervisor and the captain about the incident.
According to prosecutors, Tiwari then followed the flight attendant into the galley area. He stood extremely close to her despite being told to stay away. When the victim attempted to create distance, he moved even closer and cornered her inside the confined space.
The victim repeatedly instructed him to stop following her and to keep away. Instead, prosecutors said he persisted with the threatening behavior, causing her significant distress.
The flight attendant eventually left the galley and moved into the aisle, only to discover that Tiwari was continuing to follow her. Witnesses in the cabin observed the confrontation.
She sought assistance from the chief stewardess once again. By that stage, she was reportedly in tears, visibly frightened, and shaking.
Following the report from the cabin crew, the flight captain notified authorities ahead of arrival. After the aircraft landed at Singapore Changi Airport, officers from the Airport Police Division conducted follow-up investigations and arrested Tiwari.
Singapore Police said they were alerted to the incident at approximately 4:27 p.m. on February 9.
The case first entered the court system on March 17, 2026, when Tiwari was formally charged with using criminal force to outrage the modesty of the victim and with causing harassment, alarm, or distress through threatening behavior.
At the time, he indicated that he intended to contest the allegations and plead not guilty. A pre-trial conference was subsequently scheduled for March 26.
Court documents alleged that Tiwari deliberately used his body to make contact with the victim’s buttock area and later followed her into the galley, cornered her in the confined space, and continued pursuing her after she attempted to leave.
A gag order was imposed throughout the proceedings to protect the identity of the victim.
During sentencing proceedings, prosecutors highlighted Tiwari’s lack of remorse, noting that he smirked when confronted and remained unapologetic despite the victim’s visible distress.
On June 22, 2026, the court sentenced Tiwari to six months’ imprisonment and ordered compensation of S$1,270.95 to the victim, consisting of compensation for emotional trauma and related expenses.
The case has drawn significant attention in Singapore because it involved misconduct against airline cabin crew while operating aboard an international commercial flight. Singapore authorities reiterated that offenders who commit acts of molestation, harassment, and threatening behavior will be dealt with firmly under the law, whether such conduct occurs on an aircraft or elsewhere.
