A Sydney teenager claims a major American airline made her feel like she “was asking for it” after a passenger allegedly groped her.

Chelsea Schiffel said an elderly man sitting next to her on a United Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Melbourne grabbed her breasts twice.

The alleged incident occurred in 2014 when Chelsea was 15 years old and while her mother was at the back of the plane speaking to another family member.

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The teen claimed the man initially offered her his shoulder to rest on, according to News Corp.

In a stunning letter of refutation addressed to Chelsea’s mother Narelle Schiffle in response to the girl’s claims, United Airlines said “your daughter wore extremely short shorts”.

“The flight attendants and passengers also stated that you and your daughter were allowed to move to other seats several times, that Chelsea repeatedly moved in and out of her seat, crawling over the other customer who was attempting to sleep, and that your daughter wore extremely short shorts,” the United Airlines letter said.

Chelsea told her mother of the incident as soon as it occurred.

Chelsea said what a woman wears should have no bearing on alleged sexual assault cases. Photo: Facebook

Her mother spoke to airline staff, who she claimed did not get the pair a seat together elsewhere.

For the remainder of the flight she then sat in ­between the man and her daughter.

“You have provided no evidence of any negligence on the part of United regarding this matter,” the airline stated.

Chelsea said what a woman was wearing should not matter in relation to an alleged sexual ­assault.

“For me it comes across, by them saying that, [it] feels like they were telling me that I was asking for it,” she said.

The pair spoke to Australian Federal Police (AFP) at Sydney Airport but they did not lay charges due to “insufficient evidence”.

“Should further evidence become available it will be assessed,” an AFP spokesperson said.

The family then unsuccessfully pursued compensation from United Airlines through Shine Lawyers.

An aviation expert from Shine Lawyers told News Corp the airline, authorities and the law made it hard to prosecute in such cases.

“Aircraft are the only form of public transport where you can’t sue for personal harm from indecent assaults,” lawyer Thomas Janson said.

“These laws need urgently to change in order to protect every Australian who boards an aircraft.

“Sadly, airlines are sheltering themselves behind this loophole instead of making these changes.”

The New Daily has approached Chelsea and United Airlines for comment.