Aziz v. AirTran Airways, Inc

We were co-counsel in a case challenging AirTran’s refusal to fly nine Muslim passengers from Washington to Orlando even after the FBI informed the airline that the passengers were cleared to fly. Plaintiffs were ticketed passengers who were already on board their flight when two other passengers reported overhearing two of the plaintiffs make a suspicious remark. All nine of the plaintiffs were removed from the flight and three of them were questioned by the FBI. The FBI concluded that the plaintiffs posed no threat to the safety of the flight and informed AirTran that the plaintiffs should be rebooked, but AirTran refused to serve the plaintiffs. We alleged that the refusal to rebook plaintiffs on another flight violated federal civil rights law. The case was settled.