In January, within the confines of New York, African American travelers who were briefly directed off an aircraft belonging to American Airlines have now brought forth legal action against the airline, alleging racial discrimination as the root cause.

In a legal proceeding unveiled in a federal court located in New York, three of the aggrieved individuals have laid claim to the lawsuit. They recount being instructed to vacate a plane stationed for departure in Phoenix, wherein they observed five additional black males who had similarly been requested to disembark.

These three individuals, hitherto unacquainted and occupying separate regions within the aircraft, recount an encounter with an airline representative who informed them of their removal. Allegedly, this action stemmed from a complaint lodged by a flight attendant regarding the olfactory presence of a fellow passenger. In response, the affected men posited that their expulsion was solely predicated upon their racial identity.

Though American Airlines extended an offer to reschedule their travel, the absence of alternative flights to New York that evening became apparent after an hour’s wait. Consequently, they were permitted to reoccupy their seats aboard the aircraft. These details emerged from a lawsuit filed by Public Citizen, an advocacy organization established by Ralph Nader.

Susan Huhta, a legal practitioner specializing in employment law based in Washington, D.C., and representing the trio, articulated, “If American Airlines indeed received a grievance regarding an African American male passenger exhibiting an offensive aroma, without substantive corroboration, the recourse ought not to have entailed the expulsion of eight distinct African American males from the aircraft.”

American Airlines has affirmed its commitment to investigating the allegations levied against it. In a statement, the airline underscored its unwavering dedication to addressing all accusations of discrimination earnestly, endeavoring to ensure a positive customer experience for all patrons.

This incident casts a shadow over American Airlines, especially in light of previous admonishments by the NAACP directed towards the treatment of black passengers. The civil rights organization, in 2017, issued cautionary advisories to African American travelers concerning American Airlines, citing instances of purported discrimination. Subsequent to assurances of reforms from the airline, the NAACP rescinded its advisory.