American Airlines CEO Vows to Restore Trust Following Mistreatment of Black Passengers

Money | June 21, 2024, 6:14 p.m.

After eight Black passengers were wrongly removed from an American Airlines flight due to a complaint about body odor, CEO Robert Isom announced new measures, including the creation of an advisory group. The incident caused outrage and resulted in a lawsuit from three of the passengers who claimed they were singled out for being Black. Isom acknowledged the unacceptable treatment of the passengers and committed to rebuilding trust with the help of the NAACP. The airline is holding those involved accountable, updating its procedures for handling discrimination allegations, and revising criteria for removing passengers from flights. While a settlement for the lawsuit is in progress, the NAACP has commended American Airlines for its initial steps towards inclusivity but reminded that racial discrimination in corporate settings is unfortunately common.