On May 29, 2024, Outten & Golden and our co-counsel Public Citizen filed a race discrimination lawsuit against American Airlines detailing a horrific incident of racial profiling against Black male passengers. We are proud to represent these plaintiffs as part of our commitment to advancing civil rights both in and outside the workplace.
On January 5, 2024, plaintiffs Alvin Jackson, Emmanuel Jean Joseph, and Xavier Veal boarded American Airlines Flight 832 from Phoenix (PHX) to New York (JFK). The plaintiffs had never met each other before that day, and they were not seated together on the plane.
Before takeoff, American Airlines approached the plaintiffs one-by-one and ordered them to deboard the plane without explanation. Five other Black male passengers were also removed from the plane. As they gathered on the jet bridge, it appeared that every Black man had been removed from the plane.
Once they arrived at the gate, American Airlines told the men they would not be allowed back on Flight 832 and would need to be rebooked. The men demanded answers for why they were removed, but American Airlines refused to give them an immediate explanation.
Eventually, an American Airlines representative informed the plaintiffs that they were removed because a white male flight attendant had complained about an unidentified passenger’s body odor. Notably, at no time did anyone accuse any of the plaintiffs of having offensive body odor. When the plaintiffs pointed out that they seemingly had been targeted because of their skin color, at least one American representative responded that she did “not disagree.”
After about an hour-long delay, American Airlines informed the plaintiffs that there were no other flights available that evening. It then reversed its decision and let the men reboard Flight 832.
The lawsuit further alleges that American Airlines has a documented history of race discrimination against passengers of color. In 2017, the NAACP issued a travel advisory warning Black passengers about “disrespectful, discriminatory, or unsafe conditions” on American Airlines.
The plaintiffs were humiliated and traumatized by their experience flying on American Airlines. They have filed a lawsuit to hold the airline accountable so that this type of racial profiling does not happen to anyone else. We are honored to represent these brave men and help them uphold their civil rights.
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Bloomberg Law: American Airlines Sued by Black Male Passengers Taken Off Flight
The Hill: Group of Black Men File Racial Discrimination Lawsuit against American Airlines
New York Post: American Airlines Accused of ‘Blatant and Egregious Race Discrimination’ in Kicking Black Passengers off Flight
Daily Beast: American Airlines’ ‘Odor’ Excuse Reeked of Racism: Lawsuit
WFAA-TV: Three Black Men Sue American Airlines, Alleging Race Discrimination
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Newsday: Black Men Who Were Asked to Leave a Flight Sue American Airlines, Claiming Racial Discrimination
Jalopnik: American Airlines Sued For Kicking 8 Black Men Off Flight Over ‘Body Odor’
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