American Airlines has taken action against several employees following an incident in which multiple Black passengers were removed from a flight in Phoenix due to an alleged complaint about body odor. The airline's CEO, Robert Isom, expressed his disappointment in a note to staff, labeling the incident as unacceptable and a violation of the company's values.
Three Black passengers filed a lawsuit against American Airlines, claiming they were removed from the flight in January based on racial discrimination. They reported being singled out after a white male flight attendant raised concerns about an unidentified passenger's body odor. Despite being seated separately and not knowing each other, the three men, along with five other Black passengers, were asked to leave the plane.
During a confrontation with airline personnel in the jet bridge, the men sought an explanation for their removal. One of the passengers recorded the discussion, capturing an airline employee seemingly acknowledging discrimination. After an hour-long delay, the passengers were eventually allowed back on the plane.
American Airlines has not disclosed the number or roles of the employees placed on leave but stated that accountability measures are being taken, including removing team members from service. Isom announced plans to establish an advisory group dedicated to enhancing the experience of Black customers, encouraging the reporting of discrimination incidents, and improving diversity training to address bias and discrimination effectively.
Isom mentioned engaging with the president of the NAACP regarding the incident, although the civil rights organization has not provided a response as of yet. This is not the first time American Airlines has faced accusations of discrimination, as in 2017, the NAACP cautioned Black travelers about flying with the airline due to reported incidents of discrimination. American Airlines committed to implementing changes, leading to the NAACP lifting its advisory approximately nine months later.
