Hackett was escorted off a Virgin plane at Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport on Sunday morning by Australian Federal Police officers after a mid-flight altercation.
The swimmer was travelling in business class when the passenger in front of him allegedly reclined his seat.
Hackett reportedly took offence to this and slide his hand through the gap between the chairs and “groped” the man’s chest, “tweaking his nipple quite forcefully”, leaving him feeling “unsafe and violated”.
“There was no altercation – I was sexually assaulted by that man,” the unnamed passenger told the Herald Sun.
“He put his hand through and groped my chest and tweaked my nipple quite forcefully. Mr Hackett then stroked my arm and said ‘It’s OK, it’s all right’.”
Seven News said Hackett smelled of alcohol when he boarded the flight.
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