A retired Black police officer and his white wife have filed a federal lawsuit after being approached by American Airlines staff moments after snapping a selfie on their honeymoon.
The couple says they have been left “humiliated” and have accused American Airlines of racial profiling and false imprisonment after a fellow passenger wrongly accused the couple of human trafficking.
The lawsuit, obtained by The Independent, details the distressing incident and alleges a pattern of discriminatory behavior by the airline.
The ordeal unfolded in September 2022 as Anthony Williams, 63, and his new wife, Katsiaryna Shasholka, 34, were traveling on American Airlines flight 2408 from Phoenix, Arizona, to Miami, Florida, for their honeymoon.
According to the complaint, a passenger aboard the flight reported the couple to the cabin crew, claiming Williams was transporting Shasholka against her will.
“A Clear Case of Racial Profiling”
The lawsuit describes the passenger’s accusation as an unfounded example of racial profiling. “He had no reason to believe […] Shasholka was in any danger,” it states.
To support their case, the couple included a selfie taken during the flight, showing them smiling and enjoying the trip.
Despite the lack of evidence, flight crew members allegedly accepted the passenger’s claims without conducting their own investigation. Upon landing in Miami, Williams and Shasholka were escorted off the plane by American Airlines staff, detained, and questioned by Miami-Dade Police.
The couple described the experience as deeply “humiliating”.
They were forced to remain seated while other passengers deplaned, a spectacle they say caused “confusion and embarrassment”.
Lingering Trauma
The lawsuit claims the incident has left the couple with lasting emotional scars, including paranoia, panic attacks, and sleeplessness. Shasholka suffered a panic attack during a subsequent flight to Dubai, the lawsuit states.
“There was nothing in our interactions the entire flight that would be indicative of somebody who was being held against their will,” Williams told The Independent in a phone interview. “We were just two people having a good time.”
After contacting American Airlines the day after the incident, Williams was instructed to file a complaint online but reportedly never received a response.
Legal Action and Allegations of Systemic Discrimination
The couple’s attorney, Jasmine Rand – a prominent civil rights lawyer known for representing the families of Trayvon Martin and George Floyd – said the incident exemplifies racial discrimination.
“My client is a retired police officer,” Rand said. “He spent his life fighting crime, and now to be accused of a crime so heinous as trafficking his own wife is unfathomable.
“He is committed to fighting for justice for himself and for others that have suffered racial discrimination at the hands of American Airlines.”
The lawsuit also accuses American Airlines of a broader pattern of discriminatory practices. It cites three other incidents involving Black passengers:
- In September 2023, professional guitarist David Ryan Harris was accused of trafficking his biracial children during a flight from Atlanta to Los Angeles. He was confronted by airline staff and police based on a flight attendant’s suspicion that his sons were unresponsive during an interaction. The airline later apologized for the incident.
- In January 2024, three Black men and five additional Black passengers were removed from a flight due to a white flight attendant’s complaint about “offensive body odor.” The case was later settled confidentially.
- In February 2024, retired judge Pamela Hill-Veal, a 70-year-old Black woman, was prohibited from using a first-class restroom on a flight and later threatened with arrest when she did so. Police declined to arrest her after landing.
American Airlines Responds
An American Airlines spokesperson addressed the lawsuit in a statement, saying: “American strives to provide a positive experience to everyone who travels with us.
“We are reviewing the allegations of the complaint.”
However, the lawsuit argues that American Airlines and its employees failed in their duty to protect passengers from false accusations and discriminatory treatment. It alleges that the airline engages in widespread racial discrimination due to insufficient employee training and accountability.
Seeking Justice
Williams and Shasholka are seeking compensatory and punitive damages, as well as attorneys’ fees.
The lawsuit, filed on January 9, gives American Airlines 21 days to respond.
Rand emphasized the broader implications of the case, saying: “Acts of racial discrimination are widespread throughout American Airlines, indicating a clear failure to train its employees and to hold them accountable when they engage in discriminatory misconduct.”
