FORT WORTH- American Airlines (AA) removed eight Black men from a flight citing body odor issues, and now three of them are suing. The incident occurred in January on a flight from Phoenix to New York City, as reported by the Washington Post.
Initially, the men were told they needed to return to the gate to be rebooked on a later flight, but they were eventually allowed to reboard their original flight.
American Airlines Sued for Kicking Black Men
According to their lawyer, the men were initially “annoyed and frustrated” about being removed, but then realized they were all Black. “It hit them like a ton of bricks,” attorney Michael Kirkpatrick told the Washington Post.
American Airlines released a statement saying it takes these claims “very seriously,” adding, “Our teams are currently investigating the matter, as the claims do not reflect our core values or our purpose of caring for people.”
The men involved in the lawsuit all live in New York City and were returning home from Burbank with a layover in Phoenix. They claim they did not know each other before the flight and were not sitting together when they were removed.
They also reportedly never saw the other five men again, though the lawsuit coverage might prompt them to come forward and join the case.
Removed without Explanation
According to the plaintiffs, they were removed from the flight without any “legitimate rationale.” An American Airlines employee allegedly kicked them off “one by one” without explanation.
They later learned that a flight attendant had complained about body odor. The lawsuit asserts that “it is near impossible to imagine that American would ever similarly treat white customers.”
The men assert that they did not have any offensive body odor. However, American Airlines’ contract of carriage permits the removal of passengers if their odor is deemed offensive, stating that passengers must “be respectful that your odor isn’t offensive (unless it’s caused by a disability or illness).”
After about an hour, the airline was unable to find alternative flights for the men and allowed them to reboard. “We were walking through the aisle of shame,” said Xavier Veal, one of the men, in an interview with the Post. “It was horrible. It was a really traumatic experience.”
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