The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports Michael Lowe filed a lawsuit against the Fort Worth-based company, claiming they were responsible for an arrest warrant leading to his detention for over two weeks in a New Mexico jail.

 

Lowe Claims American Blamed Him for Robbery, Resulting in Arrest

According to Lowe’s account, he was a flyer aboard an American flight departing Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) in May 2020. On the same day, an unknown traveler shoplifted from an airport duty free store. Using in-store cameras, police allegedly determined the suspect later boarded an American flight to Reno, Nevada.

 

When airport police went to American to collect passenger information and surveillance video, Lowe alleges the carrier “departed from its established procedures” and instead only provided his information. He claims this resulted in two warrants being issued in his name, on which he was arrested over a year later in New Mexico.

 

As a result of the alleged mix-up, Lowe says he was forced to spend 17 days in the Quay County, New Mexico jail during the COVID-19 pandemic. He says the time in police custody left him in a “constant state of fear of confrontation, physical abuse or sexual victimization.”

 

Once he was released, Lowe says he was able to contact an airport police detective, but instead of providing case information, he claims they only told him his information was provided by American. After retaining an attorney, the charges against him were ultimately dropped.

 

The flyer is seeking restitution from American over the way he was treated while in custody, and for lasting mental health effects from being in jail. Lowe is also seeing reimbursement for a two-week tour of Alaska he was forced to miss, costing him around $30,000 in lost wages.

 

In a statement to the newspaper, an American spokesperson said the airline was reviewing the lawsuit.

 

Lawsuit is Latest Bad Experience Accusation for American

The court case is the second accusation lobbed at American in June 2022 over a bad passenger experience. Earlier in the month, a business class flyer claims he was served a meal with bugs inside while flying from Germany to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

Source: frugal travel guy