Lawsuit: American Airlines Accused A Black Passenger Of Trafficking His White Wife

The couple's attorney said that 'American Airlines’ pattern of racial discrimination of its passengers is intolerable.'

American Airlines is at the center of yet another lawsuit with allegations of racism The airline is accused of acting on the assumption that a Black passenger on a flight was trafficking his white wife.

According to the Miami Herald, the husband and wife were traveling while on their honeymoon. According to the lawsuit, the assumptions of another passenger and subsequent actions of airline workers led to the couple being “detained, falsely imprisoned, questioned, and humiliated.”

The lawsuit, filed on behalf of Anthony Williams and Katiaryna Shasholka by their attorney, Jasmine Olivia Mae Rand, cites other incidents where American Airlines employees escalated the racially insensitive treatment of passengers.

American Airlines told the Miami Herald via an emailed statement that they are reviewing the allegations.

According to the lawsuit, Williams and Shasholka were traveling from Phoenix to Miami on Sept. 13, 2022, when a passenger told two employees that they suspected that Williams was trafficking his wife.

Flight attendants “did not question our clients or conduct any kind of investigation, but instead falsely reported to law enforcement that [Williams] was trafficking his own wife. Upon landing, our clients were falsely imprisoned by American Airlines employees who escorted them off of the plane,” the lawsuit states. “They were made to wait, confused and embarrassed, as the other passengers deplaned and walked by them, and, then, they were questioned by Miami-Dade police officers.”

In December 2024, American Airlines settled a lawsuit brought by three Black men who made similar claims as Williams and Shasholka, namely that false allegations by other passengers led to consequences for them, despite their innocence regarding what they were accused of: unpleasant body odor.

Although the airline indicated that particular settlement “allows all parties to move forward and focus on what matters most — ensuring a safe and inclusive travel experience for every customer,” this newest lawsuit casts doubt on exactly how committed the airline is to upholding that goal.

Rand told The New York Times that the lawsuit is yet another indication that “American Airlines’ pattern of racial discrimination of its passengers is intolerable” and is another example that the airline participates in racial profiling.

In 2017, the NAACP issued an advisory to Black travelers about flying American, which was prompted by four reports of racial discrimination, the Times reported.