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American Airlines is facing a racial discrimination lawsuit after briefly removing eight black men from a plane after a white flight attendant complained about passengers’ body odor.
According to the complaint filed in federal court in Brooklyn, the three men are from Phoenix. New York City They allege that the train removed passengers for an hour and a half in January, all of whom were black and did not smell bad, a clear instance of discrimination.
American Airlines has been accused of racial discrimination after it asked eight black passengers to briefly leave a plane following complaints about body odor. (Cooper Neal/AFP via Getty Images/Getty Images)
The plaintiffs described the incident as “traumatic, upsetting, frightening, humiliating and humiliating.”
The men allege the airline violated a Civil War-era law banning racial discrimination in contracts. They are seeking damages for their suffering and punitive damages for “malicious, willful and reckless conduct.”
American Airlines passengers in Miami trapped on plane by heat: Travelers
| Ticker | safety | last | change | change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arabic | American Airlines Group | 11.62 | -1.82 | -13.54% |
American Airlines Group
American Airlines said in a statement that it was investigating the matter and that the allegations do not reflect the company’s values.
“We take allegations of discrimination seriously and want customers who choose to fly with us to have a positive experience,” the airline said.
An American Airlines flight prepares to depart at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Austin, Texas on January 15. Three black men are suing the airline for racial discrimination after they and five other black men were asked to leave the plane. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images/Getty Images)
Susan Futa, a lawyer for the three plaintiffs, said in a statement that the incident was part of American Airlines’ “alarming history” of discriminating against black passengers.
Last month, NPR and other media reported that a retired black judgeFrom Chicago The woman had filed a complaint with American Airlines after she was denied access to the first-class restrooms during the flight, despite having a first-class ticket.
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In a separate incident last year, black track and field star Sha’Carey Richardson and musician David Ryan Harris said on social media that they had been falsely accused of misconduct by an American flight attendant.
Shakari Richardson competes in the women’s 100 meters at the Weltklasse Zurich 2022, part of the 2022 Diamond League Series, at Letzigrund Stadium on September 8, 2022 in Zurich, Switzerland. (Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images/Getty Images)
Ms. Richardson said she was removed from the plane for allegedly harassing flight attendants, while Ms. Harris said she was suspected of child trafficking while traveling with her mixed-race children. The airline apologized to Ms. Harris and said Ms. Richardson had been booked on another flight.
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In 2017, the NAACP urged black travelers to avoid flying American Airlines after a series of racist incidents. The civil rights group withdrew its recommendation after the airline agreed to update its policies and educate employees about implicit bias.
Reuters contributed to this report.
