Southwest Airlines Passenger Faces Federal Charges for Masturbating 4 Times During Flight, Banned for Life

A man is facing federal charges after he allegedly masturbated multiple times during a recent flight on Southwest Airlines, The Daily Beast reports.

Antonio Sherrodd McGarity is accused of pulling his pants down and masturbating in his seat while sitting next to a female passenger. The incident took place during an April 2 flight from Seattle to Phoenix, according to a criminal complaint. 

The Phoenix Police Department arrested McGarity after the flight landed at Sky Harbor International Airport on Saturday. 

“McGarity was seated in seat 11F and the female witness was seated in seat 11E,” the complaint reads. “Shortly after taking off, and while the aircraft was in the air, McGarity exposed his penis by pulling down his pants and shorts and began masturbating.”

The female seated next to him took pictures of the act, which she turned over to authorities when the flight landed. She was moved to another seat shortly after telling a flight attendant about what had taken place. While being questioned by law enforcement, McGarity insisted that the female passenger next to him was comfortable with him masturbating, adding that he “thought it was kind of kinky.”

“McGarity advised he asked the female witness if she minded if he masturbates,” the complaint states. “According to McGarity, the female witness put her hands in the air and said, ‘it really doesn’t matter.’”

McGarity faces charges related to lewd, indecent, or obscene acts. 

The Daily Beast reports that McGarity has since been banned from Southwest Airlines for life.