Six American Airlines passengers will file charges against the company for racial discrimination after a black man said that he was forced to get out of the plane for merely requesting a change of seat.
Elgin Banks of Arizona was removed by American Airlines cabin crew from a flight from Los Angeles to Phoenix on May 31, after politely asking to switch his seat, his lawyer, Theida Salazar who spoke to NBC News, said.
Several other non-black passengers switched seats after boarding, prompting Banks to request the attendant again if he could sit closer to the front of the aircraft.
The lawsuit disclosed that Banks did not object, saying that he simply asked for a seat change and then did what he was told by the flight attendant. A few moments later, security officers approached Banks and told him he should disembark from the plane.
According to the lawsuit, the flight attendant replied, "Sir, step back," in a rude and aggressive tone. "Elgin replied, 'okay ma'am, all I was asking is if I could get a seat closer to the front,'" Jessica Zickefoose of Travel Pulse, reported, citing the lawsuit.
Passengers who were seated next to him protested that he did not do anything wrong, but both Banks and the other passengers who stood up for him were told to leave the plane.
The other passengers complained about the way the security officers treated Banks, and said that he never raised his voice on them, but they were still kicked out of the flight with Banks.
Based on a statement by American Airlines, the allegations were not an accurate representation of what actually happened. However, they have apologized for the incident.
A representative for American Airlines said the accusations were not a full or accurate portrayal of what happened, and denied that the passengers were prohibited from flying with American Airlines. The spokesperson told Business Insider that Banks had requested to transfer to first class cabin but was told he was not eligible.
Brandy Flowers, one of the passengers who is a plaintiff in the charge, told KTLA that she came to Banks' defense because "silence is not an option anymore," Sophia Ankel of Business Insider, wrote. "When you see something that's wrong and unethical... we need to stand up and say something," Flowers added.
The alleged incident comes weeks after American Airlines chief executive officer Doug Parker sent a message to employees, recalling a conversation he had with a Black Southwest Airlines flight attendant about racism.
