Three Black men sue American Airlines for racial discrimination after allegedly being pulled off plane over body odor complaint
Racial Bias at American Airlines?
Three Black men have filed a lawsuit against American Airlines, alleging racial discrimination after they were removed from a flight due to a body odor complaint. The incident occurred on January 5 on a flight from Phoenix to New York City. The men, who were not acquainted and seated separately, were among eight Black passengers asked to disembark but were later allowed to reboard after protesting the treatment.
The plaintiffs, Alvin Jackson, Emmanuel Jean Joseph, and Xavier Veal, expressed that the experience was humiliating and has had lasting emotional impacts. American Airlines is investigating the claims, which they state do not align with their values of customer care. The lawsuit, filed in the Eastern District of New York, seeks compensatory damages and highlights a history of similar complaints against the airline, referencing a 2017 NAACP advisory about potential racial bias.
On what grounds were the eight Black men initially asked to leave the plane, according to the lawsuit?
According to the lawsuit, the eight Black men were initially asked to leave the plane due to a complaint about body odor. However, the plaintiffs argue that this reason was false and that they were targeted for removal solely because of their race.
What specific allegations are being made by Alvin Jackson, Emmanuel Jean Joseph, and Xavier Veal in their lawsuit against American Airlines?
Alvin Jackson, Emmanuel Jean Joseph, and Xavier Veal have filed a lawsuit against American Airlines, alleging racial discrimination2. The specific claims made by these three men include being asked to deplane a New York City-bound flight from Phoenix on January 5, solely based on their race. According to the lawsuit, an American Airlines employee removed them and five other Black men from the flight following a complaint about body odor, which they argue was a pretext for discrimination. The plaintiffs, who were not acquainted and were seated separately, felt humiliated and singled out as they were marched off the plane, creating an impression among other passengers that they were criminals.
The lawsuit further details the emotional and psychological impact of the incident on the plaintiffs. They describe the experience as traumatic, scary, humiliating, and degrading, continuing to affect them long after the incident. The men are seeking compensatory damages, and their legal action highlights a broader pattern of alleged racial discrimination by American Airlines, citing a past NAACP travel advisory against the airline24. This advisory pointed to a history of what it described as "troublesome conduct" by the airline's employees towards Black passengers.