A lawsuit has been brought against American Airlines by a trio of black men, claiming racial discrimination and guilt by association after eight black passengers, none traveling together, were removed from a flight in Phoenix after a white flight attendant complained of body odor.
Eight Black Men Removed From One American Airlines Flight For Body Odor
Let’s review the facts, as outlined in the lawsuit:
- On January 5, 2024, plaintiffs Alvin Jackson, Emmanuel Jean Joseph and Xavier Veal boarded American Airlines Flight 832 from Phoenix (PHX) to New York (JFK)
- Prior to that date, the plaintiffs had never met, and they were not seated together on the plane, though all three had traveled on the same flight from Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) to Phoenix
- Before takeoff, an American Airlines representative approached the plaintiffs one by one and ordered them off the plane without explanation
- In addition to the three plaintiffs, five other black men were removed from the plane and no other passengers
- It “appeared” that every black man onboard was removed
- An American Airlines gate agent informed the passengers that they would not be allowed back on the aircraft because a white male flight attendant had complained about the body odor of at least one of the passengers
- The plaintiffs were not accused of having offensive body odor
- When the plaintiffs pointed out that it looked like they were being targeted simply because they were black, at least one American agent responded that she did “not disagree” [this is captured on video]
- Meanwhile, the captain announced onboard that the men had been removed due to their body odor
- Upon finding that there were no alternative flights to get the men to JFK, the men were allowed back onboard
- The flight took off with the men in their originally assigned seats
The only thing that is not clear to me based on the complaint or a CBS interview of the plaintiffs by Kris Van Cleave is whether only a single man was accused of body odor or whether multiple passengers were. If AA received a complaint about one black male passenger having offensive body odor, then the solution was not to remove all black men onboard, but to determine which one had the body odor and remove him.
This certainly looks like another case similar to the recent American Airlines and Lufthansa cases in which unrelated Jewish passengers were grouped together.
The plaintiffs are seeking punitive damages against American Airlines (i.e. a lot of cash) for the discriminatory conduct.
My Thoughts
I find it virtually inconceivable to defend the conduct onboard…I see no possible way unless every single black man onboard smelled, and that strikes me as virtually impossible.
Earlier this month I was on a late-evening flight from Chicago to Los Angeles. While seated during boarding, a group of four black men passed by me reeking to high heaven of marijuana. There would have been nothing racial about throwing them all off…the skunk-life smell was highly offensive…but they were seated together and traveling together.
This case appears very different. The three plaintiffs may have all begun their trip in Southern California but were not seated together and did not know one another.
You would think that if one or more of them did stink, it would be easy enough to identify them onboard. It is simply indefensible if they were all hauled off simply because of thier skin color..and that appears to be exactly what happened.
Can you imagine getting back on that aircraft with everyone looking at you as the reason for their delayed flight?
I’m quite sympathetic to the plaintiffs holding AA accountable for what appears to be very deplorable behavior by the gound staff in Phoenix (and potentially the flight attendant).
American Airlines says it is looking into the matter:
“We take all claims of discrimination very seriously and want our customers to have a positive experience when they choose to fly with us. Our teams are currently investigating the matter, as the claims do not reflect our core values or our purpose of caring for people.”
What a shame it did not look into this before the plaintiffs had to resort to a lawsuit…
* * *
One other issue that seems pertinent because this is a lawsuit about race.
One of the plaintiffs requested a first class upgrade but instead an “Asian woman” was upgraded:
American directed Plaintiffs to return to their original seats. Mr. Joseph requested a different seat, to avoid having to interact with the white male flight attendant. There was an available seat in first class that American could have given to Mr. Joseph. Instead, American staff upgraded an Asian woman to first class, and then allowed Mr. Joseph to take her assigned seat in coach.
I don’t like this part of the lawsuit. American Airlines follows a strict order for upgrades based upon AAdvtangae status and fare paid. This “Asian woman” was not upgraded due to her race, but because she was next in line for an upgrade.
And why refer to her as “Asian” as if she is foreign? I was at a dinner party recently in LA and an Australian woman asked a Japanese-American woman across the table, “Where are you from?”
Her (somewhat sarcastic) response? Pasadena, California.
So often Asian Americans are asked where they are from when many have been here for several generations. In this case, her parents were interned in Manzanar during World War II, making the question all the more offensive.
Don’t call whites or blacks American and Asian-Americans Asian…that’s offensive too.
CONCLUSION
The facts appear pretty damning toward American Airlines. I see no justification for the removal of eight black men unless every one of them stunk and there is no evidence to suggest that was the case. Quite the contrary, the fact that all were allowed back onboard makes it questionable that any of them stunk in the first place.
I expect the plaintiffs will receive a tidy settlement from AA and we might well see the other five black passengers join the lawsuit.
image: Outtten & Golden LLP
Everyone’s favorite creepy homosexual Ben Schlappig has this same story where he calls it “utterly unaccaptable”, as if the little twat was there and knows what happened.
The whole story is so bizarre that there has to be something more to it than what is being told. Did they pull 8 black guys from all over the plane or did the 8 just happen to be sitting near each other and they couldn’t tell which one stank? What was the whole point of pulling them off if they were going to just let them back on anyway? Why would the captain inform the passengers that they were removing some of them because of a rank odor?
Also, speaking of stinking up the cabin. I was on a flight a few months ago and my farts were so gross that the people in the row behind me thought that the plane’s sewage system was leaking.
Do you have trouble controlling your ass, Chi?
Looks like the night before was good for you… And big and wide…
Black?
Good! Be free, my queen.
Impossible! I’m a top.
Schlappig
LOL
I doubt the allegation that the Captain informed the passengers of the alleged reason . Likely the gate agent overruled the FA . I doubt that the Captain would want to touch this issue with a ten foot pole .
Does American Airlines recruit employees from Klan rallies? That both the flight attendant and captain were involved in this action to remove the men without a second thought is outrageous. The announcement about the removal was also a blow to the dignity of the passengers and unnecessary. And that reinforces the idea this is about race.
@Maryland … The allegation of the Captain’s alleged specific announcement may have been added to strengthen the legal action .
Passengers interviewed from various news sources have claimed an announcement was made about the removal.
@Maryland … Yes , “removal” , but the alleged specific reason ? Doubtful .
Passengers were told the gentlemen were removed because of odor.
Years ago an author disguised himself as a black man and wrote about his experiences in the book “Black Like Me” .
That was during a time of segregation , and was unfortunately believable .
Hawaii is one of the most racially diverse states , and an allegation like this could not be expected here . I fear that allegations , without proof , ought not be taken at face value , especially the part about the Captain’s announcement .
Unfounded allegations were made against Trump , regarding the completely discredited “dossier” , and repeated by the newspapers , The newspapers have never apologized .
I read Black Like Me….quite a riveting read.
@Matthew … +1 .
A wonderful book. Read it many decades ago.
As I said yesterday there is always 2 sides but at this point with the information known, it’s a huge black ( no pun intended) eye for AA. And honestly if 100% true they may need the largest penalty ever issued by the US Government even if it puts them out of business.
But of course in that case the taxpayers would just have to bail them out.
“Don’t call whites or blacks American…” – not sure what you mean here. Are you saying that even if one is a citizen here…in the US, aka America…that we, whatever the color of one’s skin, cannot call ourselves AMERICANS? Not being a dual passport holder who might have conflicting allegiances, and despite the US having many issues but seemingly working on most, I have no problem identifying as an American, as I think my friends of color and other ethnicities would also.
You cut off the quote mid-sentence.
I’m just tired of people looking at me or a black person and assuming American but looking at a Japanese- or Chinese- or Korean-American who may have been here five generations but assume she is simply “Asian” based on her physical appearance. This is such a common problem in California.
About the marijuana scented passengers on your ORD-LAX flight. Clearly the Lead FA and other Crew are cool with 420Flyers lol. Fly high and fly higher…lol. Peace buddy! Most 420 pax are chill, unlike alcohol and its affect on themselves and others.
Well its a fact black people can smell unpleasant to white people. Jist witnessed it one hour ago.It jas nothing to do with hygiene.Pheromones. Same we stink to black people. I think nature made it to avoid crossbreeding.
This is nothing more than a camped up cash grab from a group of lazy and deceitful individuals playing the repeatedly abused race card. The plaintiffs are clearly the ones that are racist and the ones insisting on categorizing people by skin color, as evidenced repeatedly by the manner in which they refer to themselves in both the interview and the video footage. The plaintiffs are the ones that repeatedly introduced race and allegations of discrimination in attempts to encourage inferred causation where none exists. The Plaintiffs are the ones that chose to voice their falsified charges of discrimination onto a gate agent – a sympathetic BLACK gate agent – in an attempt to acquire on video some sort of emotionally-driven corporate action to substantiate their dubious cause.
I challenge anyone to do a little digging on this situation and – as I already have done – you’ll quickly discover that these plaintiffs have weaker character than you might imagine. They were removed because they collectively smelled of illicit drug use (having just engaged in an illegal smoking session in one of the concourse’s family restrooms prior to boarding). They all have criminal records ranging from larceny to felony assault. None of them has a history of well documented employment. I suppose they figure that since George Floyd’s family was able to pull off a fraudulent lawsuit, they can snatch a little coin themselves on related terms? Outrageous.
Where is all if this proof you have allegedly dug up?
Needless to say Mr Wade you’re just racist AF!! It’s quite a few of guy’s in this world!! I pray that one day very soon that God will be able to correct your heart and whatever is going on in your heart to cause it to carry such an ugly burden!