American Airlines is under fire again, this time for allegedly detaining an interracial couple based on an unfounded human trafficking suspicion. Anthony Williams, a retired Black police officer, and his wife, Katsiaryna Shasholka, a white Russian national, say their honeymoon flight from Phoenix to Miami in September 2022 turned into a humiliating ordeal after a fellow passenger reported the couple to airline staff. The lawsuit, filed this month in U.S. District Court in Florida, accuses the airline of racial profiling and violating the couple’s civil rights.
According to the complaint, airline employees acted on the passenger’s suspicion without questioning the couple or conducting an investigation. Upon landing, Williams and Shasholka were detained by Miami-Dade police officers and held as other passengers deplaned. The couple claims they were falsely imprisoned and subjected to public humiliation despite no evidence of criminal activity. “He spent his life fighting crime, and now to be accused of a crime so heinous as trafficking his own wife is unfathomable,” their attorney Jasmine Rand said.
This incident is the latest in a string of allegations against American Airlines for racially discriminatory practices. The lawsuit highlights several recent cases, including a Black musician accused of trafficking his biracial children and Black men removed from a flight due to complaints about body odor. The NAACP, which issued a travel advisory against the airline in 2017, has criticized American for dismantling its diversity council in 2023, citing it as evidence of the company’s backsliding on commitments to equity and inclusion.
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom has acknowledged the company’s failures in addressing bias. In a letter to employees, Isom expressed disappointment in the airline’s actions and outlined measures to improve. These include creating an advisory group to address customer concerns, reevaluating policies to identify gaps, and implementing training programs to help employees recognize bias. The airline has until January 30 to respond to the complaint filed by Williams and Shasholka.
The NAACP’s president, Derrick Johnson, has urged American Airlines to revive its diversity council and take stronger action to ensure equitable experiences for all travelers. “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,” Johnson said after discussions with Isom. The lawsuit and public backlash underscore the need for systemic change in how airlines address racial bias and customer relations.
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