Lawsuit Filed After Misidentification of Couple as Human Traffickers on Flight
A federal lawsuit has been filed against American Airlines after a Black man and his white wife were wrongly accused of human trafficking during a flight from Phoenix to Miami in September 2022. The couple, Anthony Williams and Katiaryna Shasholka, were on their honeymoon when a fellow passenger alerted flight attendants, leading to their detainment by airline staff and local law enforcement upon landing.
The couple claims they were subjected to humiliation and false imprisonment as they were questioned and escorted off the plane without any investigation into the accusations. This incident has prompted the couple's attorney, Jasmine Olivia Mae Rand, to highlight a pattern of similar racist incidents involving Black passengers on American Airlines flights over the past two years.
In response to the lawsuit, an American Airlines representative stated that the company is reviewing the allegations, emphasizing their commitment to ensuring a positive travel experience for all.
The lawsuit not only seeks damages for the couple's emotional distress but also aims to address the broader issue of racial bias within the airline's treatment of passengers.
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