Avianca announces legal action against passenger who sexually assaulted woman on flight AV10.

• Avianca airline has filed a lawsuit for damages against the passenger who caused the flight AV10 to Madrid to return to Bogotá,
• The passenger was involved in a serious onboard incident that included an alleged sexual assault against a woman.
• Situation in the cabin forced the crew to interrupt the journey and return to the airport of origin to ensure the safety of the passengers and cabin staff.
• Avianca reported that the losses caused by the flight diversion exceed $40,000, a figure that includes operational costs, fuel, logistics, and impacts resulting from the schedule disruption.

Avianca has initiated legal action against the passenger who, in a state of intoxication, engaged in disruptive behavior that included the sexual assault of a female passenger on the Bogotá-Madrid route.

The national flag carrier of Colombia issued an official statement confirming that it will file a lawsuit for damages against the passenger, who allegedly showed signs of intoxication and disrupted order on board.

On the afternoon of May 13, Avianca Airlines issued a statement following another incident involving a disruptive passenger who caused several problems on one of its flights. The carrier said it would be taking legal action against the passenger.

The events occurred on flight AV10, which was traveling from Bogotá to Madrid, on May 10. During the flight, the individual showed signs of being intoxicated, causing a serious behavioral problem that included sexual assault against a female passenger.

As a result of the situation, Avianca incurred operational and logistical costs amounting to at least $40,000, equivalent to 150 million Colombian pesos. 

These expenses stemmed from additional fuel consumption, ground handling services, and the rescheduling of the flight and its crew, among other things.

“Given the seriousness of the events and to safeguard operational safety, the captain made the decision to return to Bogotá. This interruption affected the itineraries of 276 passengers, who were able to resume their journey once safety conditions were guaranteed and the individual involved was placed at the disposal of the competent authorities, who detained him upon arrival in Bogotá,” the airline stated in a press release.

The airline explained that the case is not isolated, as so far in 2026 it has registered 212 disruptive passenger incidents, which add to the 572 reports recorded during 2025.

“Avianca categorically rejects any conduct or act of violence that threatens the integrity of its employees and customers, and will continue to pursue all legal actions within its reach against disruptive passengers,” the airline stated, calling on the Congress of the Republic to process Bill 153 of 2024, to toughen sanctions against this type of passenger.