Man banned from Alaskan Airlines over allegedly touching flight attendant's buttocks claims 'reverse discrimination'

A San Diego man is livid after being accused of touching a female flight attendant's buttocks while on an Alaska Airlines flight.

"For me to be accused of this, and for me to be escorted off the plane by police? This is it. I'm blowing up. ... It's unnecessary. It's discrimination toward me," Mike Timon said after the Dec. 26 incident.

Timon, 53, said the allegation against him and the resulting repercussion — he was banned from flying with the airline — evidence "reverse discrimination against men," according to The San Diego Union-Tribune, which first reported the story.

Timon says he "politely" patted the woman on the back.

After Timon attempted to order a drink, a male flight attendant told him he'd been cut off from alcohol, that he'd assaulted another attendant and that police would meet him when they landed.

The Harbor Police Department said Timon and witnesses gave statements to officers, but no one filed charges, the Union-Tribune reported.

An Alaska spokeswoman said that the airline will soon announce updates to its policies and training to better address sexual harassment on flights.

"Alaska Airlines will not tolerate any type of sexual misconduct that creates an unsafe environment for our guests and crew members, and we are fully committed to do our part to address this serious issue," Ann Johnson told the Union-Tribune.

In November, Alaska made headlines after Randi Zuckerberg, the CEO of Zuckerberg Media and Mark Zuckerberg's sister, said she was harassed by a "frequent flyer" whose status led flight attendants to downplay his behaviour.