United Airlines has launched an investigation after a 25-year-old passenger claimed she was forced to sit next to a man she accused of masturbating during a flight. The alleged incident took place on September 3 on a regional flight from Rochester, New York, to Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey. The passenger shared her account with NBC News, describing the man as appearing to be between 35 and 40 years old and having a "completely normal" and "unassuming" appearance. She said she noticed the behavior shortly after the plane took off around 6 a.m. and felt it was unusual for someone to act that way so early in the morning. The woman says she immediately informed the flight crew about the man’s actions. However, because there were no available seats, she was allowed to remain standing in the aisle for about an hour instead of staying next to the accused passenger. As the flight approached its destination, the crew asked her to return to her seat to comply with safety regulations that require passengers to be buckled during landing. She claims she repeatedly told the crew she did not feel safe sitting next to the man, but they reportedly told her she would only need to be near him for about five minutes. According to her account, the time was longer than expected. The two passengers were seated at the back of the plane and had to wait for those in front of them to leave before disembarking. The traveler expressed frustration that the airline did not remove the accused man or alert authorities after the flight. She said the man was allowed to leave the airport without being detained. After the flight, she filed complaints with United Airlines, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the FBI. She told NBC News that this was the first time she had felt trapped by people she believed were there to help her. The passenger also mentioned she received a $100 travel credit from United Airlines, even though her ticket had cost about $400. She found the airline’s response unsatisfactory, as it described the man’s behavior as "having caused her concern" rather than acknowledging the seriousness of the situation. In a statement to People magazine, United Airlines said it is reviewing the case but did not confirm the passenger’s full account. A spokesperson told the media the airline has reached out to the customer and apologized, adding that it has no further details to share at this time.