18 | FEBRUARY 6 • 2020 

 
Southfield Orthodox Family 
Sues American Airlines 
for Discrimination
S

outhfield residents Yehuda 
Yosef Adler and Jennie 
Adler filed a lawsuit on Jan. 
28 against American Airlines 
for discrimination on the basis 
of race, religion and nationality. 
The couple, who identify as 
Orthodox Jews, stated they were 
asked by a pilot to exit the air-
craft just over a year ago due to 
their “extremely offensive body 
odor.
”
The Adlers and their 
19-month-old daughter were 
passengers on a flight from 
Miami to Detroit on Jan. 23, 
2019. In their lawsuit, the Adlers 
stated that an American Airlines 
gate agent approached them 
shortly after being seated, stat-
ing, “Sir, there’
s an emergency 
and you must deplane.
”
According to the lawsuit filed 
by the Adler’
s representative, 
Nwadi Nwogu of the Odunze 
Nwogu Law Group of Houston, 
the gate agent further stated that 
“the pilot was booting the family 
off the plane because of [their] 
body odor.
”
The Adlers said no one had 
mentioned they had offensive 
odor prior to their flight or 
during previous flights. They 
also stated they had showered 
that morning.

The lawsuit further states 
that the American Airlines 
agent “made disparaging and 
derogatory statements, telling 
the Adlers that he knew that 
Orthodox Jews take baths once 
a week.
”
After being forced to exit the 
plane, the Adlers approached 
people near their boarding gate 
and asked if they could detect 
unpleasant body odor coming 
from any member of the family. 
The lawsuit states that more 
than 20 people “responded in 
the negative.
”
Despite the family’
s request to 
board again, they were not per-
mitted on the flight. The Adlers 
requested that their luggage be 
returned to them, but the agent 
said the plane was already closed 
and ready for takeoff.
The plane left with the Adlers’
 
luggage, leaving the family 
without a change of clothes, 
their child’
s car seat, stroller and 
diapers.
Although American Airlines 
gave them hotel accommoda-
tions and a flight back to Detroit 
the following day, the Adlers 
said they were embarrassed and 
traumatized by the incident.
The lawsuit further states that 
the pilot “distributed this humil-

CORRIE COLF STAFF WRITER

PIXABAY

Jews in the D

continued on page 20

PHOTO CREDIT JERRY ZOLYNSKY

To shine the public spotlight on young people in our 

community, the JN, Jfamily and the Youth Professionals 

Network created Rising Stars: Teens Making a Difference, a 

showcase that will highlight 18 remarkable Jewish teens in 

the Metro Detroit area. Those selected will be featured in 

the April 30 issue of the JN and will also be recognized on 

the JN, JCC and Jfamily social media pages.

Nominees must live in Michigan, identify as Jewish and be

students in grades 9-12; they can be self-nominated or may 

be nominated by others today through March 8.

Nominees should be recognized for impact, contribution 

and/ or achievement in areas including (but not limited) to:


SEEKING
TERRIFIC TEENS!

To nominate yourself or a teen you know, go to 

thejewishnews.com and click on the Rising Stars button or to

https://jfamily.jccdet.org/rising-stars. The deadline is March 8.

