American Airlines has reportedly suspended an undisclosed number of employees by putting them on leave for their involvement in a May incident wherein eight Black men were removed from a Phoenix to New York City flight.
The suspension comes after a May federal lawsuit filed by three of the Black men removed from Flight 832 in January. The men claimed to have not been seated together or to have previously known one another before they — and what they believe to be all the other Black men on the plane — were asked to leave. The plaintiffs suing American Airlines are Alvin Jackson, Emmanuel Jean Joseph, and Xavier Veal.
According to the Associated Press, a spokesperson for the carrier said, “We are holding those involved accountable, including removing team members from service.” Moreover, CBS News detailed that the suspended parties are on leave until American Airlines finishes conducting its internal investigation.
In a note to the airline’s staff, CEO Robert Isom condemned the discriminatory, “unacceptable” incident. He said he was “disappointed” and that what happened “contradicts” the carrier’s values. Isom also reportedly claimed that American Airlines is forming an advisory group to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future toward Black customers.
“Be assured that we are steadfast in our commitment to working with the NAACP and other civil rights organizations to learn from this incident, listen to and rebuild trust with you, our team members, and our Black customers, and to delivering the best possible experience with American,” Isom wrote.
What Happened During The Incident?
As Travel Noire previously reported, a white male flight attendant allegedly made the body odor complaint.
The eight Black men were asked to deboard and return to their gate. After an hour, they reboarded, as there were no other flights to New York City that evening.
Following American Airlines’ latest announcements, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has spoken out. The civil rights organization said, “The NAACP is pleased to see American Airlines has taken initial steps to forge a path toward a more inclusive experience for all. While it is unfortunately common for Black consumers to experience racism and discrimination at the hands of corporations, it is not common to see such swift, and decisive action. It is our hope that this approach will serve as a model for other corporations who may find themselves in similar situations.”
