Four Airlines Face Civil Rights Lawsuits

Jun 5, 2002

Lawsuits have been filed against four major US airlines alleging that they removed passengers from their planes because of their appearance.

The actions, brought by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of five men, are against American Airlines, Continental, Northwest and United Airlines parent company, UAL Corp.

The ACLU alleges that all five men, four of whom are US citizens and the other a legal resident, were forced to leave flights because of their Middle East or Asian appearance, constituting illegal discrimination and a violation of their civil rights. Two of the men involved are of Arab descent.

In a statement civil rights groups said that all the men were forced to leave flights for reasons unrelated to security. Suits have been filed in three states, California, Maryland and New Jersey.



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