#American Airlines accused black woman of kidnapping white child: lawsuit

A black social worker is suing American Airlines, alleging her civil rights were violated after she was detained under suspicion of kidnapping a one-year-old white boy.

Shannon Murphy was accompanying the boy on a flight from Fort Worth, Texas to Ontario International Airport in San Bernardino County in California after the child had spent a two-week court-ordered visit with his father when she was detained. According to the filing obtained by the Mercury News, “a passenger told a flight attendant ‘that Ms. Murphy was holding a kidnap victim’.”

Murphy, a Riverside County, California, resident who has worked for the Department of Public Social Services’ Children’s Services Division since 1999, had an ID, the boy’s birth certificate and a court order, was nonetheless detained for about an hour before being allowed to re-board the plane.

The lawsuit states that although the boy in Murphy’s charge was light-skinned and blond, he was mistaken for a five-year-old, Hispanic child with dark hair missing from New York City. During the detainment, Murphy alleges airline employees “took the boy from Murphy’s arms and threatened her with force if she didn’t comply.”

“Had American Airline(s) (researched the matter) first prior to hauling Plaintiff, Ms. Murphy, off the plane and detaining her and the one-year-old Caucasian male dependent, Ms. Murphy would not have suffered the mental, physical and psychological harm flight personnel inflicted upon her,” the lawsuit alleges.

It adds that Murphy is now under a psychologist’s care and has suffered from nightmares and insomnia as a result of the incident.

In a statement emailed to the Mercury News, American Airlines said: “We are reviewing the lawsuit and the details of the flight. We take the safety and comfort of our customers very seriously and we’re committed to providing a positive experience for everyone who travels with us.”

Murphy seeks unspecified damages and compensation for past and future medical expenses.