A retired Black police officer from Arizona is taking legal action against American Airlines, some of its crew members, and a fellow passenger after being racially profiled and falsely accused of human trafficking his own wife during a flight.
Anthony Williams, who served as a police officer before retiring, was traveling with his new wife, Katsiaryna Shasholka, on September 13, 2022. Katsiaryna, a white woman and Russian national, had just married Williams, and the couple was on their way to Miami for their honeymoon. They boarded their American Airlines flight in Phoenix, Arizona, excited to start this new chapter of their lives.
Things took an unexpected turn during the flight when another passenger, Peter Salles, accused Williams of trafficking Katsiaryna. Salles shared his concerns with the flight crew, leading to a troubling series of events.
According to the lawsuit, flight attendants Angel Rodriguez and Michael Wilfong didn’t speak to the couple or investigate the claim. Instead, they passed the accusation directly to law enforcement. When the plane landed in Miami, the situation escalated further.
Williams and Shasholka said they were pulled aside by American Airlines staff as other passengers walked past them. Confused and embarrassed, they were escorted off the plane, detained, and questioned by Miami-Dade police officers. They describe the experience as humiliating, claiming they were treated as if Williams had committed a serious crime—all because of the color of his skin.
The couple is now suing American Airlines, the crew members, and the passenger who made the accusation. They’re seeking damages of more than $75,000, citing racial discrimination, false imprisonment, emotional distress, and negligence.
Williams expressed his frustration in a statement shared by his lawyer, Jasmine Rand, a well-known civil rights attorney who has worked on high-profile cases involving Trayvon Martin, George Floyd, and Michael Brown. He said, “As a former law enforcement officer, I worked hard to fight crime, and to be accused of committing a heinous crime is unfathomable. I was accused of human trafficking my wife because of my race. I fought hard to uphold the law in this country, and I will fight hard now to uphold the laws that prohibit racial discrimination.”
American Airlines responded to the lawsuit, saying, “American strives to provide a positive experience to everyone who travels with us. We are reviewing the allegations of the complaint.”
This case highlights the painful reality of racial bias and the emotional toll it can take on individuals, even those like Williams, who dedicated their careers to serving and protecting others. For Williams and Shasholka, what should have been a joyful start to their marriage turned into a nightmare they’re now fighting to put behind them.
