According to CNN, a lawsuit filed Wednesday on behalf of three Black men alleges “blatant and egregious race discrimination” by American Airlines when they were removed from a flight. The suit claims that plaintiffs Alvin Jackson, Emmanuel Jean Joseph, and Xavier Veal, along with five other Black male passengers, were ejected from a flight from Phoenix to JFK in New York City on January 5, 2024, “without any valid reason, based solely on their race.”
Before takeoff, an American Airlines representative ordered the men off the plane. Upon reaching the jet bridge, they saw other Black men also being removed. American representatives cited a complaint about body odor as the reason, although none of the plaintiffs were told they had body odor, and they denied having any.
They were allowed back on the plane after about an hour, which they described as traumatic and humiliating. The plaintiffs are seeking relief, compensation, punitive damages, and attorneys’ fees.
Click play to listen to the AURN News report from Clay Cane. Follow @claycane & @aurnonline for more.
