Man jailed for molesting Singapore Airlines stewardess as friends laughed during flight

A passenger on a Singapore Airlines flight has been sentenced to six months' jail after he molested an air stewardess and later cornered her in the aircraft galley, while his friends laughed in response.

Akash Tiwari, a 35-year-old Indian national, was sentenced on Monday, 22 June 2026. He was also ordered to pay the victim about S$1,270.95 (around US$982) in compensation.

Local media outlets reported that Tiwari pleaded guilty to one count of molestation and one count of harassment by threatening behaviour causing distress. He faces an additional five days' jail if he fails to pay the compensation.

According to court documents, Tiwari was on board a Singapore-bound flight from Bangkok, Thailand, on 9 February 2026, travelling with four friends. The group was observed to be rowdy.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Lynda Lee said the men would wave frantically and laugh whenever a female crew member walked past their aisle.

A gag order protects the identity of the victim, and certain details of the flight have not been disclosed.

The incident began before take-off in Bangkok, when the victim approached the group to confirm their meal orders.

While confirming his meal, Tiwari stretched out his arm and brushed against the victim's left upper thigh. The act shocked her, but Tiwari and his friends began laughing.

The victim reported what had happened to her superior and was moved to serve meals in an aisle away from the group.

After meals were served, the victim was collecting trays and pushing the meal cart towards the front of the aircraft, with her back facing Tiwari.

He then deliberately leaned out of his aisle and swerved his body towards her, nudging his elbow onto her buttock with the intention of outraging her modesty.

The victim was shocked and upset. She told Tiwari not to touch her, but he smirked rather than apologising. She repeated her request as her distress increased.

According to court accounts, one of Tiwari's friends burst out laughing. The friend said he would like to have a beer and watch the "show", referring to the victim's reaction.

The victim reported the molestation to the chief flight stewardess, who accompanied her to confront Tiwari. He remained unapologetic and insisted he had done nothing wrong.

At around that time, the flight captain announced that the aircraft was preparing for landing, and the victim left for the galley to report the incident.

Tiwari followed the victim into the galley, a narrow and confined space where no one else was present. He walked up and stood extremely close to her.

Distressed, the victim told him to stay away. Instead of moving away, he came even closer and cornered her in the galley.

The Deputy Public Prosecutor said the victim, by now even more distressed, shouted at him to stay away and stop following her.

She immediately left the galley, only to find that Tiwari was again following her. She told him once more to stay away.

Passengers in the aisle witnessed what happened. Tiwari finally left her alone when she sought help from the chief stewardess.

By then, the victim was in tears, visibly frightened, with both her hands shaking.

The flight captain reported the case to an aviation and logistics hub at Changi Airport, and a police report followed. Tiwari was arrested after the aircraft landed in Singapore.

The prosecution sought six months' jail and compensation comprising S$1,000 for the victim's emotional trauma and about S$270.95 for medical expenses.

The Deputy Public Prosecutor said it was clear that Tiwari's sexual offending and harassment formed part of a group, which added to the overall egregiousness of his conduct and the victim's distress.

For molestation, Tiwari could have been jailed for up to three years, fined, caned, or given any combination of these penalties.

For using threatening behaviour causing distress, he could have been jailed for up to six months, fined up to S$5,000, or both.