A woman woke up to a man attempting to rape her after an airline booked her a Paris hotel with a stranger when her flight was cancelled, according to reports.
The 30-year-old, whose identity has been protected, was intending to travel with TAP Air Portugal from the French capital to Lisbon on May 31.
Passengers on the suspended journey scrambled to the airline's kiosk to collect hotel reservation vouchers.
However, single rooms were limited, meaning the woman had to spend the night in a room with other travellers.
She told Brazilian newspaper O Globo: “I refused, demanding a room just for myself, but I was told that this was not an option: either I had to accept, or pay out of my own pocket, something that was unfeasible for me in Paris.”
The woman, of Brazilian descent and holds Italian citizenship, was reportedly handed a paper with the names of a German woman and a Brazilian man who she would be sharing the accommodation with that evening.
“During the night, the German woman left the room and I was woken up with the naked man on top of me, kissing my neck, holding me down, trying to rape me,” she said.
“Luckily, I managed to defend myself, screamed, and he left the room. Still, the scars of the episode remain.”
The next day, the German woman said she saw the Brazilian woman look “visibly emotionally shaken”.
She attempted to contact TAP for assistance after the incident, but claimed she received no direct response.
Now the woman, a consultant, is seeking legal and psychological support in South America and has filed a lawsuit against the airline for “moral harassment and negligence”.
TAP is said to have offered the woman R$5,000 (£682) in compensation, but has not yet apologised or acknowledged an error.
How many reports from women were silenced due to a lack of strength to continue?
The woman added: “How many other reports from women in vulnerable situations were silenced due to a lack of support or strength to continue? I had Brazil on my side. And what about the Portuguese women?”
She is working with lawyer Nathália Magalhães, who said her client is seeking compensation of up to R$50,000 (£6,825).
“Unfortunately, we were very disappointed to realise that, even with the lawsuit, the company did not send an apology or show concern,” Ms Magalhães said.
“It's unacceptable that they could only offer accommodation at that hotel and in shared rooms. It's humiliating treatment.'”
The woman has also filed a report to French police. The Standard has contacted TAP Portugal for comment.
If you've been the victim of sexual assault, you can access help and resources via www.rapecrisis.org.uk or calling the national telephone helpline on 0808 802 9999.
