3 Black passengers sue American Airlines after alleging racial discrimination following odor complaint
Racial Bias on Flight 832: Legitimate Claim?
Three Black passengers are suing American Airlines, alleging racial discrimination after they, along with five other Black men, were removed from a flight due to a complaint about body odor. The incident, captured on video, occurred during boarding of Flight 832 from Phoenix to New York, with the airline staff citing a complaint from a white flight attendant. The men were eventually placed back on the same flight after no alternative was found, leading to an uncomfortable journey.
The lawsuit, filed in the Eastern District of New York, highlights that the men were not acquainted and were seated separately. It questions the airline's decision-making process and suggests racial bias was a factor, as implied by some airline staff during the incident. American Airlines has responded by stating they are investigating the matter, emphasizing that the alleged discrimination does not align with their values.
What specific allegations are being made against American Airlines by the three plaintiffs in the lawsuit?
The three plaintiffs in the lawsuit against American Airlines, Emmanuel Jean Joseph, Alvin Jackson, and Xavier Veal, allege that they were subjected to racial discrimination during an incident on American Airlines Flight 832 from Phoenix to New York in January. They claim that they, along with five other Black male passengers, were removed from the flight due to a complaint about body odor, which they believe was a pretext for racial discrimination1. According to the lawsuit, an American Airlines employee indicated that the complaint came from a white male flight attendant. The plaintiffs argue that the incident was racially motivated and that they suffered humiliation, trauma, and embarrassment as a result of being removed from the flight and then being allowed back on. They are seeking declaratory relief, just compensation for their pain and suffering, a punitive damage award sufficient to deter American Airlines from discriminating against Black passengers in the future, as well as attorney's fees.
How did the three plaintiffs, Emmanuel Jean Joseph, Alvin Jackson, and Xavier Veal, describe their experience during and after being removed from the flight?
Emmanuel Jean Joseph, Alvin Jackson, and Xavier Veal described their experience of being removed from the flight as distressing and discriminatory12. They were part of a group of eight Black men who were singled out and removed from the plane due to an alleged complaint about body odor, which they believe was racially motivated1. Joseph noted that as he was collecting his belongings, he realized that only Black men were being removed, leading him to feel targeted based on race1. Xavier Veal, who recorded the incident, expressed that he was panicking during the removal. After being held off the plane for about an hour and told they would be rebooked, they were ultimately placed back on the same flight when no alternative flights were available1. This return to the plane was particularly uncomfortable for Jackson, who felt the stares and perceived blame from other passengers for the delay1. Jean Joseph highlighted the discomfort of facing a predominantly white group of passengers who seemed to hold them responsible for the disruption1. Their lawyer, Sue Huhta, underscored the lack of any plausible explanation for their removal other than racial discrimination, especially given that the men did not know each other and were not sitting together1.