A New Jersey man has admitted to charges of sexual assault during a flight from Bozeman, Montana, to Dallas, Texas. U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme announced that Bhaveshkumar Dahyabhai Shukla, 37, pleaded guilty to one count of abusive sexual contact under the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States.
Shukla could face up to two years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release. The case was presided over by U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto. Sentencing will be determined by U.S. District Court Judge Dana L. Christensen on November 19, 2025, after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The incident occurred on January 26, 2025, during an American Airlines flight where Shukla was seated next to Jane Doe and her daughter. According to court documents, Shukla initially pretended to sleep but then began rubbing Jane Doe's leg near her pocket on her hip. Alarmed by his actions, Jane Doe and her daughter went to the restroom.
Despite being told firmly to stop touching her, Shukla continued his inappropriate behavior throughout the flight. A witness seated behind them confirmed that Shukla touched Jane Doe for a significant portion of the journey.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zeno Baucus and Brian Lowney prosecuted the case with investigations conducted by the FBI, ICE, and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport Police.
