An American Airlines flight removed every black passenger onboard after a staff member made a complaint about “offensive body odour”, a lawsuit claims.
Eight men – who did not know each other – were seated separately on Flight 832 from Phoenix Airport to New York JFK in January.
The lawsuit alleges that a “white male flight attendant” picked out the men and booted them from the aircraft because they were “smelly”.
After being removed, crew members spent half an hour searching for another flight, but when no alternatives were found, the eight men were asked to return to their seats.
Eight men – who did not know each other – were seated separately on Flight 832 from Phoenix Airport to New York JFK in January
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“I knew that as soon as I got on that plane, a sea of white faces were going to be looking at me and blaming me for their late flight of an hour,” one of the men, Emmanuel Jean Joseph told CBS.
Fellow passengers Alvin Jackson and Xavier Veal were also removed from the flight after taking a connecting flight from Los Angeles.
Veal said he began recording when he soon realised all the black passengers were being told to leave.
“I started freaking out,” he said.
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One man can be heard saying the incident is “un-f*****g-professional” in the video footage while another says: “This ain’t no random pick.”
A black American Airlines attendant at the desk appeared to agree with the claim that their removal was racially motivated, as she is heard saying: “I do not disagree with you.”
The lawsuit claims: “They had to re-board the plane and endure the stares of the largely white passengers who viewed them as the cause of the substantial delay.
“They suffered during the entire flight home, and the entire incident was traumatic, upsetting, scary, humiliating, and degrading.”
The lawsuit alleges that a “white male flight attendant” picked out the men and booted them from the aircraft because they were “smelly”
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The group discussed their ordeal as they gathered at baggage reclaim at the end of the flight, and lodged the lawsuit on Wednesday in the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York.
American Airlines has not yet explained why the men were removed from the flight.
The airline said: “We 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.”
Attorney Sue Huhta said: “It’s almost inconceivable to come up with an explanation for that other than the colour of their skin.
“Particularly since they didn’t know each other and weren’t sitting near each other.”