Black Men File Discrimination Lawsuit Against American Airlines
American Airlines Faces Backlash After Removing All Black Passengers From Flight
Three black passengers have filed a lawsuit against American Airlines after being removed from a flight from Phoenix to New York on January 5. Alvin Jackson, Emmanuel Jean Joseph, and Xavier Veal, who did not know each other and were not seated together, claim that they were asked to exit the plane by a flight attendant, along with all other black passengers.
The men stated in a joint statement that they were accused, shamed, and humiliated by American Airlines simply because of their race. The Texas-based airline has responded by saying they are investigating the matter as the allegations do not align with their values.
According to the lawsuit filed by consumer rights group Public Citizen, the passengers were already seated and ready for departure when they were asked to leave the aircraft. The reason given was that a white male flight attendant had complained about the body odor of an unidentified passenger.
Despite efforts by American Airlines employees to rebook the men on alternative flights, there were no available options to New York that night. Eventually, the group was allowed to return to their original flight.
This incident is not the first time American Airlines has faced accusations of discrimination. In 2017, the NAACP issued a travel advisory warning black Americans to avoid the airline due to discriminatory practices. The advisory was lifted the following year after the carrier announced operational changes.
The airline’s handling of the situation has sparked outrage and renewed concerns about racial profiling in the air travel industry. As the investigation continues, passengers and advocacy groups are calling for transparency and accountability from American Airlines.
