Black Retired Police Officer Claims He Was Falsely Accused of Trafficking White Wife While Flying to Honeymoon: Complaint

A Black retired police officer claims in a newly filed lawsuit that he was falsely accused of trafficking his wife, who is White, on an American Airlines flight while on their way to celebrate their honeymoon.

The retired cop, Anthony Williams, and his wife, Katsiaryna Shasholka, were on a flight from Phoenix to Miami in September 2022 when they claim that a passenger accused Williams of human trafficking and reported him to airline employees, according to their complaint, which was filed in federal court in the Southern District of Florida.

“Upon landing, our clients were falsely imprisoned by American Airlines employees who escorted them off of the plane, they were made to wait confused and embarrassed as the other passengers deplaned and walked by them,” Williams and Shasholka’s attorneys allege in the complaint.

The plaintiffs say they were “humiliated” by the experience and claim that the defendants had no reason to suspect that Shasholka was in any danger.

The airline’s actions allegedly “caused plaintiffs to experience mental pain and suffering, sleeplessness, paranoia, panic attacks, fear, anxiety, embarrassment, humiliation,” the complaint states.

The complaint names American Airlines, as well as the passenger who reported the plaintiffs and two airline employees as defendants and accuses them of racial discrimination.

“American strives to provide a positive experience to everyone who travels with us,” the airline says in a statement to PEOPLE. “We are reviewing the allegations of the complaint.”

The lawsuit also referenced a 2023 incident in which musician David Ryan Harris, who is Black, was stopped on the jetway by an American Airlines employee and police officers in Atlanta and accused of trafficking his own kids, who are biracial.

Harris, who has played guitar in John Mayer’s band for years and has collaborated with Dave Matthews, said that he believed a flight attendant called ahead and reported that the musician’s children possibly weren’t actually his because they didn’t respond during an interaction with her.

“At American, the safety and security of our customers and team members are our top priorities. We strive to create a positive, welcoming environment for everyone who travels with us and apologize for any misunderstanding that may have occurred,” the airline told PEOPLE following the 2023 incident. “A member of our team has reached out to the customer to learn more about their experience and address their concerns.”

Harris later posted that the airline reached out to let him know that the flight attendant offered a “heartfelt apology.”

To help combat systemic racism, consider learning from or donating to these organizations:

• Campaign Zero works to end police brutality in America through research-proven strategies.
• ColorofChange.org works to make the government more responsive to racial disparities.
• National Cares Mentoring Movement provides social and academic support to help Black youth succeed in college and beyond.