American Airlines released a statement that it had settled a lawsuit claiming it had discriminated against three black men who removed from a flight earlier this year. The three men did not know one another and were not seated together. They were all removed from their plane after a white flight attendant complained about body odor onboard the aircraft. They said they were allowed back on the plane after waiting an hour at an airport gate in Phoenix, before departing for New York.
American and the group that brought the lawsuit did not disclose the amount of the settlement. “We are very pleased that American Airlines took our complaint seriously, and we hope that this never happens to Black passengers or any other people of color again,” the plaintiffs, Alvin Jackson, Emmanuel Jean Joseph and Xavier Veal, said in a statement provided by the Public Citizen Litigation Group, a nonprofit consumer organization that represented them with the law firm Outten & Golden. “Our goal in speaking out has always been to create change,” the men’s statement said. “We are proud that we used our voices to make a difference in the lives of Black Americans.”
The airlines said it strives to have a “welcoming and inclusive environment” for customers. “The agreement allows all parties to move forward and focus on what matters most — ensuring a safe and inclusive travel experience for every customer,” the airline said in a statement.