In court documents, the government alleged that Dietrich disobeyed repeated instructions from the flight crew and Dietrich engaged in sexual contact with another person without their permission.

Dietrich was arraigned last July on one count of interfering with flight crew members and attendants and one count of abusive sexual contact in special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States, both felonies.

Abusive sexual contact charge comes with a maximum of two years in prison, one year of supervised release and a $250,000 fine and an interference charge is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

If at the time of sentencing the plea agreement is accepted by the court, the government will move to dismiss that indictment and charge Dietrich with assault onboard an aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States, a misdemeanor.

The alleged assault occurred on SkyWest Flight 3789 operating as Delta Connections from Salt Lake City to Bozeman. The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Bozeman Airport Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zeno B. Baucus is prosecuting the case.

According to FBI data, incidents of sexual misconduct on planes tripled between 2018 and 2022 in what officials calls a “disturbing increase.”

Previous coverage and press releases said Dietrich was 42 not 32 and incorrectly named the incident as occurring on a Delta Airlines flight.