On Thursday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that two men have been arrested and charged with abusive sexual contact aboard an aircraft—a crime punishable by up to two years in prison—in connection with two alleged assaults that took place on the way to Seattle.

In one incident, Babak Rezapour of Van Nuys, California, is accused of assaulting a sleeping passenger on a Norwegian Air flight from London to Seattle in January. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, the victim accepted a glass of wine from Rezapour, "became unusually sleepy," fell asleep, and awoke to find the Rezapour sexually assaulting her and using his jacket to shield the activity. She fled to the back to the plane and reported the incident to airline staff.

In the other incident, Matthew Stevens of Anchorage, Alaska, allegedly assaulted a woman on an Alaska Airlines from Anchorage to Seattle. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, after the flight took off, Stevens "moved into the middle seat and began harassing the victim with personal questions and attempting to hold her hand, and rest his head on her shoulder. At various times, while pretending to be asleep, he grabbed her thigh and her breast." Another passenger helped the victim get away, the victim informed airline staff, and an Alaska employee contacted Port of Seattle Police.

"Reports of sexual assaults on aircraft are increasing, and we want the public to know these assaults are federal crimes and will be investigated and prosecuted consistent with the law," U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes said in a statement. There were 63 reported incidents of sexual assault on airplanes in 2017, up from 57 in 2016.

The FBI encourages passengers to keep the armrest down if you're flying next to a stranger and to report any assault to the flight crew immediately.