SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH -- A Detroit-based Delta Air Lines pilot is accused of molesting a 14-year-old girl as a passenger on a flight from Detroit to Salt Lake City Saturday.

First reported by the Detroit News, a formal complaint was filed in Salt Lake City's federal court due to the alleged crime place in an interstate aircraft.

The filing says Michael James Pascal occupied the center seat in row 44 of the plane. The teen, identified in court documents as R.S. to protect her identity, rode in the window seat.

The girl, who had an injury and boarded on crutches, spoke briefly with Pascal prior to take off; he helped her get a red airplane blanked and she said he "was nice," according to the complaint.

"I made sure the armrest was down because I usually feel uncomfortable when people get too close to me," the victim is quoted as saying in the filing.

The complaint says she then pulled her legs up to her chest and proceeded to fall asleep.

"An unknown amount of time later R.S. woke up and noticed Pascal's hand was under the left cheek of her buttocks," the court filing states.

The girl told authorities his hand was palm up, "gripping" but not moving, and she felt his fingers under the inside of her thigh.

The teen said she hit the arm of Pascal, "who was clearly awake," and said, "What the hell are you doing?" to which Pascal replied, "I'm sorry, I was asleep. I have to use the restroom."

The teen then notified a flight attendant of what happened and switched seats with another passenger in the rear of the plane.

Once the plane debarked, authorities questioned the pilot who said it was possible that his hand fell into the teen's seat when he fell asleep.

Pascal was destined for Salt Lake City where he was scheduled to pilot a flight.

MLive has not received a response to its request for comment from Delta Air Lines. The pilot's current employment status is unknown.

An "order for detention" of Pascal was filed Tuesday.