American Airlines has reached a settlement in a racial discrimination lawsuit brought by three Black men who claimed they were unfairly removed from a flight in January based on a false body odor complaint.

The settlement's terms remain confidential, but the Fort Worth-based airline has committed to enhancing efforts to prevent future discrimination.

The incident occurred on January 5, during a flight from Phoenix to JFK Airport in New York. According to the plaintiffs’ initial complaint, they were ordered to deboard after a flight attendant's baseless claim about body odor, which they argue was rooted in racial bias. The lawsuit was officially filed on May 29 in the Eastern District of New York.

An American Airlines spokesperson expressed satisfaction with the resolution, stating, “American Airlines is committed to providing a welcoming and inclusive environment to all customers. While specific details of the settlement cannot be disclosed, we are pleased to have reached an amicable resolution.”

The airline has since terminated the flight attendants involved in the incident, according to the legal team representing the plaintiffs. In a joint statement, the three men—Alvin Jackson, Emmanuel Jean Joseph, and Xavier Veal—shared their satisfaction with the outcome, saying, “We are very pleased that American Airlines took our complaint seriously and hope this never happens again to Black passengers or any other people of color. Our goal was always to create change, and we’re proud to have used our voices to make a difference.”

The lawsuit revealed that eight Black passengers, including the plaintiffs, were removed from the flight after an American Airlines representative approached each individually before takeoff. The plaintiffs were told their removal stemmed from a body odor complaint, yet none were directly accused of having an odor. The complaint stated that none of the men exhibited offensive body odor.

This case comes amidst ongoing scrutiny of American Airlines for racial discrimination. The NAACP previously issued a travel advisory for the airline in 2017 due to similar allegations, though the warning was lifted nine months later following improvements. After news of the lawsuit surfaced, the NAACP renewed its call for systemic changes.

In response, American Airlines pledged to implement new measures, including forming an advisory group to address discrimination concerns.

Susan Huhta, a partner at Outten & Golden and counsel for the plaintiffs, praised the resolution, stating, “American Airlines’ commitment to take concrete actions to address discrimination represents a significant step forward. We are pleased to have reached an agreement that allows these courageous men to move forward with dignity.”