PanamaTimes

Friday, Apr 26, 2024

American Airlines passenger alleges racism, says she was banned from plane because of her 'tone'

American Airlines passenger alleges racism, says she was banned from plane because of her 'tone'

A New York woman claims she faced racial discrimination from American Airlines when she was banned from a flight because of the "tone" she used when talking to a flight attendant about a delay.

In a series of tweets posted Sunday and Monday, Kyleema Norman said she was on her way to Grenada with her daughter as a graduation present she and her husband got for her. Norman said the flight was delayed for three hours, and when she spoke up to airline staff she and her daughter were "banned" from the flight.

"Who knew the gift would be her watching me getting banned from our flight on American Airlines and witnessing the outrage of racism?" she tweeted.


In an interview with the New York Post, Norman, a deputy superintendent with the New York City Department of Education, discussed her conversation with the manager while she was at New York's LaGuardia Airport, waiting for a connecting flight to Miami.

"Your tone at 35,000 feet — I don’t think I’d be able to trust you’d be safe in the air with a pilot and other people," she recalled him saying.

After tweeting about the ban, American Airlines replied, "Delays can be very upsetting. Please continue to work with the airport team for assistance with any possible rebooking." Norman responded by saying that the manager "would not allow me to rebook" or get her luggage off the plane.

Norman also tweeted that the manager called Port Authority police. She said the officers were "very helpful" and tried to get her bag for her, but were not successful.

FILE - American Airlines passenger jets prepare for departure, on July 21, 2021, at Boston Logan International Airport in Boston.


The next day, Norman tweeted a video of her encounter, where she could be seen speaking to officers.

"This is what @AmericanAir is calling erratic behavior! Please watch. At which point do I look like a threat to anyone's safety!" she wrote.

Norman also tweeted that she called American Airlines’s hotline but customer service did not help her. The airline tweeted back saying that it would "take some time to review what happened at the gate" and then once that was done "our team will follow up with you directly."


American Airlines said in a statement to the Post that they "take all claims of discrimination seriously and have opened an internal investigation into the issue." The airline added that its customer relations department "is actively engaged with Ms. Norman to learn more and to apologize for her family’s recent travel experience."

Norman tweeted Tuesday morning that she had been offered $125 in travel credit, but that she rejected it.

"NO THANK U. A trip to Harlem from Brownsville in my Expedition costs more than that! Do better," she said.


Newsletter

Related Articles

PanamaTimes
0:00
0:00
Close
Apple warns against drying iPhones with rice
In a recent High Court hearing, the U.S. argued that Julian Assange endangered lives by releasing classified information.
Global Law Enforcement Dismantles Lockbit Ransomware Operation
Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny has died at the Arctic prison colony
The President of Argentina Javier Mile does not fly private, he flies commercial, with the citizens he represents. And they LOVE him for it.
Bitcoin Reaches $50,000 for First Time in Over Two Years
Belo Horizonte: Brazil's Rising Carnival Hotspot for 2024
In El Salvador, the 'Trump of Latin America' stuns the world with a speech slamming woke policing after winning a landslide election
Tucker’s interview with Putin is over 50M views on X within the first 5 hours.
Finnish Airline, Finnair, is voluntarily weighing passengers to better estimate flight cargo weight
President Nayib Bukele has proudly announced El Salvador's remarkable achievement of becoming the safest nation in the Western Hemisphere.
Former Chilean President Sebastian Piñera Dies in Helicopter Crash
This farmer seems to understand science a bit more than the event organizer, Klaus Schwab.
Facebook turns 20: From Mark Zuckerberg's dormitory to a $1trn company
The Coolest Dictator in the World" on the Path to Victory in El Salvador
Macron, France and fake news
Indian-Origin Man 'King' Arrested For Smuggling $16 Million Drugs Into US
Can someone teach Americans that not every person with slanted eyes is Chinese?
Europe's Farmers Feeding the People, Protesting Against Politicians Who Do Nothing for Their Country and Serve Only Themselves at Taxpayers' Expense
Paris Restaurant That Inspired 'Ratatouille' Loses $1.6 Million Worth Of Wine
Brazilian Police Investigate Bolsonaro's Son for Alleged Illegal Spying
Police in Brazil Raid Residence of Bolsonaro Associate Over Allegations of Illegal Spying
Border Dispute Escalates as Texas Governor Vows Increased Razor Wire
OpenAI Enhances ChatGPT-4 Model, Potentially Addressing AI "Laziness" Issue
The NSA finally acknowledges spying on Americans by acquiring sensitive data
Report Reveals Toxic Telegram Group Generating X-Rated AI-Generated Fake Images of Taylor Swift
US Border Patrol States 'No Plans' to Remove Razor Wire Installed in Texas
Bitcoin Experiences Approximately 20% Decline in Value
Klaus Schwab recently appointed himself as the Earth's "trustee of the future."
DeSantis Drops Out, Endorses Trump.
Nikki Haley said former President Trump is "just not at the same level" of mental fitness as he was while president in 2016.
Residents of a southern Mexican town set the government palace on fire in response to the police killing of a young man
Samsung Launches AI-Driven Galaxy S24, Ushering in New Smartphone Era
Judge Questions SEC's Regulatory Overreach in Coinbase Lawsuit
The Ecuador prosecutor who was investigating the television studio attack, has been assassinated.
Is artificial intelligence the solution to cyber security threats?
Vivek Ramaswamy suspends his US election campaign and endorses Trump.
Viral Satire: A Staged Satirical Clip Mistaken as Real Footage from the 2024 World Economic Forum in Davos
The AI Revolution in the Workforce: CEOs at Davos Predict Major Job Cuts in 2024
Ecuador Reports 178 Hostages in Prison Gang Standoff
The Startling Cuban Espionage Case That Has Rattled the US Government
Two Armed Men in Ecuador, Dressed as Batman and The Joker Storm the Streets.
Armed Gang Raids Ecuadorian TV Station Following State of Emergency Declaration
Anti-Democratic Canada: Journalist Arrested for Questioning Canadian Finance Minister on Support of Terrorist Group
Ecuador's 'Most-Wanted' Criminal Vanishes from Prison
Mexican Cartel Supplied Wi-Fi to Locals Under Threat of Fatal Consequences for Non-Compliance
Border Surge Leads to Over 11,000 Migrants Waiting in Northern Mexico
Outsider Candidates Triumph in Latin American Elections
As Argentina Goes to the Polls, Will the Proposal to Replace the Peso with the Dollar Secure Votes?
Fatal Shark Attack Claims Life of Boston Woman Paddleboarding Near Bahamas Resort, According to Police
×