FBI Charges Indiana Man After Alleged Assault on Sleeping Teen During Flight

A registered sex offender has been banned from Spirit Airlines after allegedly groping a 17-year-old girl while she slept on a flight from Indiana to Florida.

What Happened Aboard Spirit Flight NK 1523

65-year-old John Daniel Fowler, a resident of Indianapolis, was on flight NK 1523 from Indianapolis International Airport to Orlando International on July 29, 2025, when the incident occurred, according to a report from the Independent.

According to the website Flightaware, Spirit flight NK 1523 arrived at its destination in Orlando 17 minutes ahead of schedule, landing at 9:03 AM EST. The Independent says the teen, identified as "Victim 1," had been placed in a middle seat on the flight with Fowler beside her in the aisle seat.

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Victim's Account of the Assault

After the plane left Indianapolis, the victim reportedly asked the passenger sitting next to the window if she could take a photo. It was then that Fowler asked the victim to send him the photo she had taken and gave her his phone number, according to the report. It goes on to say that for the duration of the flight, Fowler attempted to engage in conversation with the victim, who "was not interested and shut him down."

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Spirit Airlines Crew and Law Enforcement Response

In the affidavit received by the Independent, the victim had to remove Fowler's hand several times. According to the report, the teen had fallen asleep as the plane neared its destination. She woke when the plane landed to find Fowler's hand under her blanket, touching her inappropriately and without her consent. The victim began to scream, getting the attention of the flight crew.

Fowler’s Defense and Federal Charges Filed

While being interviewed by the police, Fowler claimed he touched the victim's leg accidentally while picking up her thermos, which he alleges had fallen over. The teenage girl was later interviewed by the FBI and a child forensic expert, and later that same day, Fowler was officially charged with "abusive sexual conduct aboard an aircraft." If found guilty, he could face up to 3 years in federal prison. Because he is already a registered sex offender, he could face as many as 10 more years, according to the Independent.

Who Is John Daniel Fowler?

According to the Marion County, Indiana, Sheriff's Office, John Daniel Fowler, who is also known by the alias Danny, was convicted of Sexual Battery on November 6, 2023, and must register as a sex offender until 2033. That incident, which occurred in 2018, resulted in initial charges including "Rape when victim is unaware of the defendants actions. Other sexual conduct," according to public records. The case was set to go to trial before a jury before a plea deal was reached on November 2, 2023.

Fowler has a criminal record spanning nearly two decades in Indiana.