Key Takeaways:
– Three Black men have filed a lawsuit against American Airlines, accusing the company of racial discrimination.
– The men were reportedly asked to disembark a flight due to a complaint about body odor, sparking controversy.
– An American Airlines employee reportedly informed the men that their removal was due to a flight attendant’s complaint.
– The situation has reignited concerns about racial discrimination in the company, a topic that had previously led to a warning by NAACP in 2017.
– American Airlines is now investigating the allegations, emphasising that they take discrimination claims seriously.
Accusations of Racial Bias Emerge Against American Airlines
American Airlines is facing serious accusations of racial discrimination following a lawsuit filed by three Black men in New York on Wednesday, May 29. According to a report by the Associated Press, the men were ordered to disembark a plane set to take off in Phoenix, Arizona. Additionally, they noticed five other black men who had also been told to exit the flight.
Details of the Incident and Subsequent Lawsuit
The lawsuit reveals that the three men, who did not know each beforehand, were seated in different sections of the plane when they were instructed to leave by an American Airlines staff member. The reason provided for this unexpected removal was an alleged complaint from a flight attendant over a passenger’s body odor.
Reacting to this, the men raised concerns that they were being singled out due to their race. In response, the airline offered to rebook them on another flight. Unfortunately, reports indicate that there were no more flights heading to New York that evening, leading to the men being allowed back on the plane after an hour-long standoff.
Addressing the issue, Susan Huhta, the attorney representing the three men, argued, “If American Airlines received a complaint about a Black male passenger with offensive body odor but could not verify the complaint, the solution should not have been to eject eight separate Black men from the plane.”
American Airlines Reacts to the Accusations
As accusations of bias and racial discrimination hit the headlines, American Airlines has pledged to rigorously investigate the allegations. The airline has been keen to emphasize that such incidents do not align with their core values or mission of caring for their customers.
Nevertheless, past concerns about racial discrimination will likely resurface. In 2017, the NAACP alerted Black travelers about potentially discriminatory practices at American Airlines, warning of a pattern of problematic incidents concerning Black passengers. Though American Airlines addressed this issue promising to eradicate all forms of discrimination, the latest incident raises fresh concerns.
The Ongoing Controversy and Potential Outcomes
NAACP President Derrick Johnson stated in 2017, “We’re not telling people not to fly on American. We’re just saying to individuals that here is an advisory note. We have picked up a pattern of a certain behavior of this corporation and until further notice be on alert.”
The disclosure about this latest incident comes after high-profile athletes Sha’Carri Richardson and Odell Beckham, Jr. were removed from American Airlines flights within days of each other last year. With this fresh lawsuit and growing public attention, it remains to be seen how American Airlines will handle the controversy and what reparations, if any, will be granted to the individuals involved in this recent incident.
At the time of writing, specific details about what the three men are seeking in their lawsuit are yet to be disclosed. As the investigations continue, all eyes are on American Airlines’ subsequent course of action to rectify the situation and ensure adherence to their stated ‘core values’.
