NEW YORK, NY – American Airlines has agreed to settle a federal race discrimination lawsuit brought by three Black men who were required to deboard a plane at the insistence of white flight attendants prior to a flight from Phoenix (PHX) to New York (JFK) in January 2024.
On May 29, 2024, plaintiffs Alvin Jackson, Emmanuel Jean Joseph, and Xavier Veal filed a lawsuit in the Eastern District of New York alleging they and five other Black male passengers were ordered to deboard Flight 832 from Phoenix (PHX) to New York (JFK) on January 5, 2024, following a flight attendant’s complaint about an unidentified passenger’s body odor. The plaintiffs were not responsible for any odor, were not seated together, and did not know each other before the incident. American Airlines has since terminated the employment of the flight attendants responsible for their removal. American, noting that the incident does not reflect its values, has reached an amicable resolution of the lawsuit and states that it will continue its focus on delivering a positive experience to customers who choose to fly with the company.
The plaintiffs filed a stipulation of voluntary dismissal on December 19, 2024. The terms of the settlement are confidential but include a commitment by American to take action to prevent discrimination in the future.
“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,” said the three plaintiffs, Alvin Jackson, Emmanuel Jean Joseph, and Xavier Veal. “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.”
“Corporations have a pressing responsibility to ensure that customers are not mistreated on account of race,” said Michael Kirkpatrick, an attorney at Public Citizen Litigation Group who represented the plaintiffs. “We appreciate that American Airlines treated this incident with the seriousness it deserves and agreed to correct course.”
“American Airlines’ commitment to take concrete actions to address discrimination is a significant departure from the way public companies have historically dealt with individual race discrimination claims,” said Susan Huhta, partner at Outten & Golden and counsel for the plaintiffs. “We are pleased to have reached a resolution that will allow these brave men to move forward with their heads held high.”
The plaintiffs are represented by Michael Kirkpatrick and Lauren E. Bateman of Public Citizen Litigation Group, and Susan Huhta, Lindsay Goldbrum and Kendall Onyendu of Outten & Golden LLP.
The case is Alvin Jackson et al. v. American Airlines, Inc.,Case No. 1:24-cv-03818 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.
About Outten & Golden LLP
Outten & Golden LLP is one of the largest U.S. law firms dedicated to the representation of employees and individuals. With offices in New York City, Washington D.C. and San Francisco, the firm has taken on many of the country’s largest and most powerful employers, forging landmark settlements and historic verdicts that contribute to a more equitable workplace. As a mission-driven firm, O&G uses litigation and other means to expand the rights of all employees to fair wages and working conditions, and a workplace free of discrimination, harassment and retaliation. O&G also frequently litigates major civil rights matters, including the federal government’s discriminatory use of criminal background checks, the denial of consumer loans to DACA recipients, digital redlining and free speech suppression by major technology companies, and much more. Learn more at www.outtengolden.com.
About Public Citizen Litigation Group
Public Citizen Litigation Group is the litigating arm of Public Citizen, a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization that champions the public interest in the halls of power. Public Citizen defends democracy, resists corporate power, and works to ensure that government works for the people. Through its Litigation Group, Public Citizen litigates to protect the rights of consumers to access the courts and to stop rollbacks of important consumer, worker, and environmental protections. Learn more at www.citizen.org/litigation.