Jewish Couple Sues American Airlines, Claiming Discrimination for Being Removed From Flight Over Alleged Body Odor

KEY POINTS

Yehuda Yosef Adler, Jennie Adler, and their toddler daughter were removed from an American Airlines flight in January 2019
Staff allegedly told the family they were removed for their body odor and used derogatory language when speaking with them
The family filed the lawsuit in Houston federal court, but did not specify damages

A couple filed a lawsuit Friday against American Airlines for being kicked off a flight from Miami to Detroit because of alleged problems with body odor.

Yehuda Yosef and Jennie Adler filed the lawsuit in Houston federal court for being kicked off American Airlines Flight 1023 from Miami to Detroit on Jan. 23, 2019, alleging discrimination. The suit claims the incident caused “unbearable humiliation, embarrassment and mental and emotional anguish.”

The couple is seeking undisclosed sum for damages.

The couple, who are Orthodox Jews, boarded the flight with their 19-month old daughter when a gate agent boarded and said they had to get off the plane.

“Once outside, defendant's agent told Mr. Adler that the pilot was booting the family off the plane because of body odor,” the lawsuit says. “Ms. Adler asked the agent if the body odor was emanating from him, his wife or child and the agent would not respond to the question but continued to state that the Adlers must leave the plane at the instruction of the pilot and because they had extremely offensive body odor.”

The suit says the Adlers told staff they had bathed before their scheduled flight. One of the staff allegedly responded by making “disparaging and derogatory statement, telling the Adlers that he knew Orthodox Jews take baths once a week.”

“Despite having done nothing wrong, American Airlines Flight 1023 took off without plaintiffs but with the plaintiffs' entire luggage,” the suit says. “It was apparent that the Adlers had been racially profiled.”

American Airlines responded with a statement:

“The Adler family was asked to deplane after multiple passengers and our crew members complained about Mr. Adler’s body odor. The decision was made out of concern for the comfort of our other passengers. Our team members took care of the family and provided hotel accommodations and meals, and rebooked them on a flight to Detroit the next morning. None of the decisions made by our team in handling this sensitive situation were based on the Adler’s religion.”