American Airlines has settled with three Black men who filed a lawsuit alleging race-based discrimination. On January 5, 2024, Alvin Jackson, Emmanuel Jean Joseph, and Xavier Veal boarded American Airlines Flight 832 from Phoenix to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. The flight turned into a distressing experience for the men. They, along with five other Black male passengers, received orders to deboard the plane without explanation.
According to the lawsuit, the men learned after deplaning that a white male flight attendant had complained about an unidentified passenger’s body odor. Notably, none of the removed passengers were specifically accused of having offensive body odor. Furthermore, they were not seated together nor did they know each other before the flight.
The Lawsuit Against American Airlines And Settlement
Following the incident, the three men filed a federal lawsuit against American Airlines. They alleged “blatant and egregious racial discrimination.” The legal action sought to address what the plaintiffs described as a pattern of discriminatory behavior by the airline toward passengers of color, particularly Black passengers.
The precise terms of the settlement remain unclear. However, American Airlines has committed to taking concrete actions to prevent discrimination in the future.
Susan Huhta, partner at Outten & Golden and counsel for the plaintiffs, commented on the outcome. Huhta stated, “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. We are pleased to have reached a resolution that will allow these brave men to move forward with their heads held high.”
American Airlines issued a statement following the settlement. The company reaffirmed its dedication to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all its customers. The airline said, “While we cannot comment on the specific details of the settlement, we have reached an amicable resolution regarding the lawsuit filed earlier this year. The agreement allows all parties to move forward and focus on what matters most – ensuring a safe and inclusive travel experience for every customer.”
There has been much discussion about racial discrimination in the travel industry, and this case is just one example. In 2017, the NAACP issued a travel advisory about racial discrimination. The advisory warned Black passengers about potential “disrespectful, discriminatory or unsafe conditions” on American Airlines flights. Now, the settlement highlights the ongoing need for airlines to address these concerns. The settlement also calls for carriers to implement meaningful changes to ensure equal treatment of all passengers.
