While we all know that American Airlines doesn’t exactly have the greatest of reputations for pretty much anything, this incident might just take the cake. Though the airline didn’t necessarily play a large role in the racism that went on, they didn’t try to defuse the situation either.
Amber Phillips recently took a flight with American Airlines and had a disastrous experience – if she hadn’t live-tweeted the whole thing I don’t think anybody would have believed the ridiculousness of the situation. Apparently, Phillips, being a ‘black’ woman, made the ‘white’ woman sitting next to her uncomfortable, simply because their arms touched.
After the woman made her complaint, Phillips had the police called by the flight attendant and later found out that the woman claimed Phillips assaulted her. Read on to see how the completely racist and overboard situation played out.
Pictured: Phillips and the woman in question who claimed Phillips assaulted her.
Phillips took a picture (above) of the white woman who started all the nonsense.
via: Amber J Phillips
After their arms touched, the woman began making a scene in what can be described as a racist rant against Phillips.
via: Amber J Phillips
After documenting the incident, Phillips attempted to leave the flight where she found the police waiting. The flight attendant called the police after the woman claimed that Phillips had assaulted her.
via: Amber J Phillips
Phillips was astounded that the woman’s lies were believed without any inquiry.
via: Amber J Phillips
As a frequent traveller, Phillips is used to being scrutinised by TSA.
via: Amber J Phillips
What she isn’t used to, is blatant disrespect and racism from members of the general public.
via: Amber J Phillips
Apparently, the woman had enough room to sit comfortably the whole flight, yet still chose to make a scene.
by Kailee
It may not be a conspiracy, but the woman did seek the flight attendant out to call the police.
via: Amber J Phillips
The unfortunate thing is that Phillips is not making any of this story up.
via: Amber J Phillips
Phillips was notably distressed.
via: Amber J Phillips
More so when she saw that the police officer was also ‘white’.
via: Amber J Phillips
Phillips’ questioning of the woman’s treatment was not appreciated in the slightest.
via: Amber J Phillips
However, neither was the officer’s display of racism.
via: Amber J Phillips
Without even asking Phillips for her side of the story, the case was immediately treated as an assault, purely based on the woman’s side of events.
via: Amber J Phillips
Luckily, Phillips had some supporters around her.
All the while the officers continued to assume that she, being a ‘black’ woman, had indeed assaulted this other woman.
via: Amber J Phillips
That’s American Airlines for you.
via: Amber J Phillips
After only asking for her ID, and nothing about the incident, it is clear that the officers assumed Phillips was in the wrong.
via: Amber J Phillips
But thankfully, the gate manager stepped in and cleared the air, and there were no casualties.
Leave a Reply