American Airlines Settles Lawsuit for Alleged Discrimination

HIGHLIGHTS:

• American Airlines settles lawsuit filed by three black men who allegedly faced discrimination while aboard the plane
• The carrier acknowledged its fault and promised that it would improve on its policies and handling of similar situations

American Airlines has settled a lawsuit filed by three men of color who sued the company for alleged racial discrimination following their forced removal from a flight to Arizona in January this year.

While the exact terms of the settlement remained confidential, Emily Leach of the Public Citizen Litigation Group, said that the terms included a commitment from the carrier to implement measures aimed to prevent similar occurrences.

As part of the settlement, American Airlines has terminated the flight attendants involved in the incident. The three men—Alvin Jackson, Emmanuel Jean Joseph, and Xavier Veal—issued a joint statement expressing satisfaction with the outcome.

“We are very pleased that American Airlines took our complaint seriously,” they said. “We hope this never happens again to Black passengers or anyone else. Our goal has always been to create change, and we are proud that we used our voices to make a difference in the lives of Black Americans.”

According to the plaintiffs, they were removed from a flight on January 5, 2024, from Phoenix to New York City.

The plaintiffs, who were strangers to each other and seated separately on the flight, said that their removal and the subsequent treatment by American Airlines staff were “humiliating, degrading, and deeply traumatizing.”

The lawsuit alleged that a white male flight attendant complained about a passenger having body odor, which led to the removal of Jackson, Joseph, Veal, and five other Black men.

However, none of the men had been accused by other passengers of having body odor. The plaintiffs claim they were targeted because of their race.

After being escorted off the plane, the men were told there were no available flights to rebook them that evening. They were later allowed to board the same flight but reported continued “rude and discriminatory” behavior from the airline staff.

American Airlines’ Fell Short

In response to the lawsuit, American Airlines Chief Executive Officer Robert Isom acknowledged the incident, calling it “unacceptable” and stating that the airline had “fallen short” in its handling of the situation.

He promised that the company will improve on its policies and practices, including establishing an oversight group focused on improving travel experience for black men, enhancing oversight and reporting procedures, and reassessing the airline’s policies regarding passenger removal situations.

He also said that the company will implement new employee training aimed at addressing and preventing bias and discrimination in real-world scenarios.

The settlement marks the end of the legal dispute, with both parties hopeful that the steps outlined will contribute to a more equitable and respectful flying experience for all passengers.