Three Black men who sued American Airlines for race discrimination after being removed from a flight in January 2024 have settled the lawsuit. The terms are confidential, but American has committed to preventing discrimination in the future. The airline has also terminated the employment of the flight attendants responsible for the men’s removal.
The men, Alvin Jackson, Emmanuel Jean Joseph, and Xavier Veal, stated that their removal from the flight and subsequent interactions with American Airlines staff were humiliating and traumatizing. They were removed after a white male flight attendant complained about a passenger with body odor, although none of the removed men were accused of having body odor by other passengers.
After the lawsuit was filed, American Airlines CEO Robert Isom acknowledged the incident was unacceptable and announced steps to improve the flying experience for Black passengers. This includes creating an advisory group focused on improving the travel experience for Black customers and implementing new employee training to recognize and address bias and discrimination.
The plaintiffs’ counsel expressed satisfaction with American Airlines’ commitment to address discrimination and praised the resolution as a positive step forward. The men are hopeful that their voices have made a difference in the lives of Black Americans and are proud to have used their voices for change.
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