A couple who were asked to leave an American Airlines flight while they were traveling with their seven-week-old baby on Sunday are suing the airline.
As reported by TMZ, the airline kicked a mother, father, and their newborn baby off a flight after the couple became embroiled in an argument that apparently turned "physical".
In footage of the incident, taken on a flight from Charlotte to Philadelphia, new mom Kamia Hoilett is seen explaining her side of the story to a flight attendant who came over after the original argument.
Apparently, the altercation came about after a different staff member asked her to stand up to allow another passenger to get to his seat.
Father Allan Ali had been filming the conversation until a third flight attendant intervened from behind and allegedly "smacked" the phone out of his hand. At that point, the situation escalated even further and the family was eventually ordered to leave the plane.
After being forced to leave their flight, the couple were booked on a later flight, which left in the evening.
Sharing footage of the incident on Instagram, the father captioned the post: "Your staff is absolutely disrespectful!!!! Kicked a new mother and our 7 week old baby off the plane for absolutely nothing!!!!
"We are coming for them this is absolutely unacceptable!!!!! Please share!!!!! We need answers!!!!!! I need answers asap!!!!!!"
In another post taken after they deboarded the plane, Ali wrote: "Today could’ve been avoided with a little human decency and compassion…. I ask you had my queen not been black… would this have occurred.
"The answer is unequivocally no! @americanair we need answers! Please continue to share we need justice!!!"
American Airlines has since said it is investigating the incident and has reached out to the family and other individuals involved.
"Our values demand that all customers are treated fairly and with respect, and we find the video posted by the family concerning," American Airlines said in a statement, per The Independent.
The airline added that the situation had its "full attention" and that it aims to take the appropriate measures.
