Three African American males launched a racial discrimination complaint against American Airlines, which the airline has now formally settled. The men were deplaned by flight attendants for allegedly having body odor.
The claim has been resolved by the airline for an unknown sum. The flight attendants who were a part of the incident have also been sacked. demonstrating that the airline had some element of misconduct.
The lawsuit
Three African American males sued American Airlines for racial discrimination in a federal court in Brooklyn, New York, on May 29. The three men claimed that racial prejudice led to their removal from an American Airlines flight.
aboard January 5th of this year, an event aboard a flight that connected Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) with the New York City Area led to the complaint. A flight crew reported a bad smell in the cabin, forcing eight passengers to disembark after they had boarded. The eight people that got off the plane were all black.
After it was decided that no other flights could transport the deplaned passengers, all of the passengers were later permitted to board the aircraft once more. It was also determined that the unpleasant smell was not generated by any of the individuals who had disembarked.
The case was filed by three passengers who wanted compensation for a horrific incident. The case referenced regulations from the Civil War that prohibited racial discrimination in contracts.
The settlement
American Airlines declared on Thursday, December 19th, that the action had been settled and that the parties had reached a “amicable resolution,” meaning that the airline has decided to compensate the plaintiffs for their losses without holding a trial.
According to ABC News, the company released a statement saying:
“The agreement allows all parties to move forward and focus on what matters most – ensuring a safe and inclusive travel experience for every customer.”
The three men maintained that they didn’t know one another until they were gathered together and disembarked, that they weren’t even seated close to one another, and that they weren’t the cause of any stink.
When discussing their victory with the media, the plaintiff’s lawyer said:
“We are very pleased that American Airlines took our complaint seriously and we hope that this never happens to Black passengers or any other people of color again. Our goal in speaking out has always been to create change. We are proud that we used our voices to make a difference in the lives of Black Americans.”
In a June email to American Airlines employees, American Airlines CEO Robert Isom also addressed the issue, stating:
“I am incredibly disappointed by what happened on that flight and the breakdown of our procedures. We fell short of our commitments and failed our customers in this incident.”
The incident demonstrated that minorities and people of color still face racial prejudice in the aviation sector today. Additionally, the airline failed by permitting the situation to happen in the first place. It is clear that they will alter their approach to dealing with comparable circumstances in the future.