PARIS, August 27 (RIA Novosti) – An investigation into allegations of discrimination by American Airlines is being carried out in France after its crew forced a passenger to leave an aircraft because of his unpleasant odor, Liberation newspaper reported.
The incident took place in Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport on Sunday. Before the airline’s Paris-Dallas flight took off, one of the passengers, Mehdi, rose from his seat to visit the restroom, Liberation said Tuesday. However, one of the crew members asked him to get off the plane.
“The crew and the passengers are complaining about the unpleasant odor you exude. The aircraft commander has a right to deny you a flight,” a flight attendant said.
Mehdi, who did not look slovenly and was not in a state of alcoholic intoxication, tried to explain that the odor was from a perfume he sprayed on in the airport’s Duty Free store. However, the aircrew made him leave the flight, which proceeded to Dallas without him onboard.
Mehdi has already filed a lawsuit against American Airlines, arguing that the accusation of his offensive smell was only a pretext for not allowing him on the flight.
