Fort Worth (WBAP/KLIF) – American Airlines is being sued by a passenger who is claiming discrimination after an incident earlier this year.
The lawyer for Dana Holcomb of Killeen said during a press conference last Thursday, that his client was “taken off an airplane so that a dog could fly in the first class cabin.”
Attorney Reginald McKamie Sr. represents Dana Holcomb who was booked to travel first class from Las Vegas to Austin. The alleged incident happened on a connecting flight in Phoenix according to the lawsuit.
Holcomb, who is allergic to dogs, had an immediate reaction to a fellow passenger’s support dog. The other passenger tried unsuccessfully to switch seats. The lawsuit states the flight captain allegedly ordered Holcomb to the back of the plane or to get off.
The crew also says that Holcomb was removed after “becoming confrontational,” a claim that he disputes; additionally, two passengers on the flight gave sworn statements that Holcomb never become confrontational.
Holcomb also claims that he was left stranded, without alternate travel or hotel accommodations. He’s seeing punitive and contractual damages.
American says makes ever every to accommodate all passengers including those traveling with support animals. American also says it offered to refund the difference between a first class and coach seats.
Read the full statement from American Airlines:
“Federal regulations require American Airlines to transport service and support animals. American makes every effort to accommodate all passengers, including those traveling with and seated near service or support animals. In the case of an allergy, we work to re-seat a passenger further away from the service or support animal.
Mr. Holcomb’s seat was next to a customer with an emotional support animal. In an effort to accommodate Mr. Holcomb, the customer with the emotional support animal offered to switch seats with another customer so Mr. Holcomb could remain in his seat. Mr. Holcomb wasn’t satisfied with that solution, so he was given the option of a seat further away from the service animal in the main cabin with a refund in the difference in fare, which he also declined. After all the attempts to accommodate Mr. Holcomb were declined and he refused to comply with crew member instruction, he was removed from the plane. Our team offered to rebook Mr. Holcomb and refunded his first-class ticket.
American has not received lawsuit but once we do we will review it and respond in court when appropriate.”
Meantime, video of the press conference announcing the lawsuit was aired on KWTX-TV in Waco.
This tweet was posted by Twitter user @HunterDavis at KXXV-TV in Waco who reportedly broke the initial story of the incident back in April.
@AmericanAir is under fire… again.
It comes after a story I broke back in April about a Killeen man who was kicked off a flight.
After my exclusive story, Dana Holcomb filed suit against the airline.
AA says they will “address this in court.” https://t.co/w16ePZNGPV
— Hunter Davis (@HunterDavisKXXV) August 30, 2019
(Copyright 2019 WBAP/KLIF 24/7 News)
