Several employees at American Airlines have been suspended due to their involvement in an incident where black passengers were removed from a flight following a complaint about body odour.
In May, three passengers sued the airline, alleging racial discrimination related to the 5 January incident.
The Chief Executive Officer, Robert Isom, addressed employees in a note, stating that the incident was unacceptable and that the company “fell short” of its customer commitment.
“We are holding those involved accountable, including removing team members from service,” the airline said in a statement.
Additionally, American Airlines has announced various initiatives to prevent such incidents, including creating an “advisory group” focused on the experience of black passengers.
In the May lawsuit, three men who did not know each other and were not seated together claimed that all black men were removed from the Phoenix to New York City flight.
Eight passengers in total were removed from the flight.
“American Airlines singled us out for being black, embarrassed us, and humiliated us,” they said in a statement.
The three men, Alvin Jackson, Emmanuel Jean Joseph, and Xavier Veal, stated that American Airlines targeted them because of their race, causing them embarrassment and humiliation.
The men were eventually allowed to return to their seats on the original flight.
In a letter to employees dated 18 June, Isom expressed he was “incredibly disappointed by what happened on the flight and the breakdown of our procedures.”
“We fell short of our commitments and failed our customers,” he said.
Isom also affirmed the airline’s dedication to collaborating with civil rights organisations like The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) to rebuild trust.
This is not the first time American Airlines has faced discrimination allegations.
In a 2017 incident, the NAACP advised black travellers to avoid the airline, citing a pattern of “disrespectful” and “discriminatory” behaviour and a “corporate culture of racial insensitivity and possible racial bias.”
The advisory was lifted the following year after the airline implemented operational changes.
However, on 4 June this year, the NAACP warned that it might reinstate the advisory unless American Airlines responded swiftly and decisively to the January incident.
Nancy Mbamalu
Follow us on:
NIgeria's federal government and organised labour have signed an agreement on the new minimum wage…
A significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has occurred following an…
Africa’s largest gathering of creative industry professionals, CANEX WKND, is taking place from October 16-19,…
Sri Lankans are casting their votes in a significant presidential election on Saturday, the first…
Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State has reaffirmed loyalty to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),…
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has resumed discussions with investors towards bringing back…
View Comments
AaPprovedD by the INTERNAL ofNG,, CaLL(+234_815__8559_865) opportunities to get a car of your choice at a minimum price E-Auction Vehicles/Cars For Sale of Rice...Motor
Mama Africa #17,000 •Tomatoes Rice # *15,000* •Cap Rice #15,000 •My Food #17,000 •Mama Gold #17,500 •Ade Brazil #15,000 •Elephant Gold #15,000 •Royal Umbrella #15,000 Etc.
Golf3= 400,000
((08138559865) (+234_815__8559_865)
Toyota Exterra=850,000
Toyota Camry big daddy=650,000
Toyota Venza= 1.7million
Toyota Avalon=850,000
Toyota Rav4=950,000
Toyota Prado=1.3million
TOYOTA HILUX=2million
Toyota Sienna=850,000
TOYOTA 4-RUNNER=950,000
Toyota Corolla=650,000
Toyota Matrix= 700,000
Toyota Highlander=950,000
Toyota Picnic=500,000
Tacoma 1.850,000
Toyota Hiace Bus=950,000
Toyota Tundra=1.5million
Toyota Sequola=900,000
BMW 5-series=1.960,000
BMW 3-series=1.640,000
BMW X6=2.670,000
Ford Edge=700,000
Ford Escape=600,000
Honda Elantra=600,000
Honda Baby-Boy=700,000
Dyna Truck 900k
TIPPER Head 6mill
Honda Accord=550,000
Honda CRV=650,000
HONDA CIVIC=500,000
HONDA EVIL-SPIRIT=750,000
HONDA ODYSSEY=500,000
Honda Pilot=850,000
Nissan pathfinder=800,000
Nissan Amanda=750,000
Infinity=950,000
Benz C250=N1.300,000
Benz C300=1.6MILLION
Benz ML350=2 million
Benz ML300=1.5 million
Benz ML550=2.6million
Mercedes-Benz C-Class ₦1.3Million
Mercedes-Benz E-Class ₦1.8Million
Mercedes-Benz GLK ₦3.Million
Es330 1.6
Lexus C5 350=950,000
IS250 1m
Lexus Rx300=1.2 million
Lexus Rx330=1.5 million
Is350 2mill
Gx470 1.8mill
Lexus Rx350= 2 million
ES350 2mill