In January, three black passengers filed a lawsuit against American Airlines in federal court in New York, alleging racial discrimination. The men were asked to leave a plane in Phoenix before takeoff, along with five other black men. The airline claimed they were removed due to a complaint about body odor, which the passengers denied. They asserted that they were victims of discrimination.
American Airlines offered to rebook the men, but as no other available flights to New York were found that evening, they were eventually allowed back on the plane after about an hour. Public Citizen, a consumer-advocacy group, filed the lawsuit on behalf of the passengers.
American Airlines responded by stating that they are investigating the claims and take all allegations of discrimination seriously. The airline emphasized its commitment to providing a positive experience for all customers and expressed that the reported incident does not align with their values of caring for people.
This is not the first time American Airlines has faced accusations of discrimination. In 2017, the NAACP cautioned black travelers about flying with the airline, citing instances of discrimination against African American passengers. Following this, American Airlines pledged to make changes, leading to the NAACP lifting its travel advisory.
