Southwest Airlines human trafficking accusation: Mom says airline thought she was trafficking her biracial daughter
Mary MacCarthy of Los Angeles instructed CNN she and her 10-year-old daughter, Moira, have been flying to Denver on October 22 after receiving information that MacCarthy’s brother had immediately died.
MacCarthy stated they’d a quick cease in San Jose and boarded one other Southwest flight however realized then that they could not be seated collectively.
“I requested flight attendants if we could possibly be seated collectively however they instructed us we might every should take a center seat,” MacCarthy stated. “So with their permission I requested different passengers if they might kindly transfer so we could possibly be collectively, particularly as my daughter was grieving, and so they did. Individuals are good.”
“They stated they have been right here as a result of my daughter and I have been reported for suspicious conduct, appearing suspiciously earlier than boarding and whereas boarding,” she stated.
“I took out my telephone and instantly began recording. I instructed (the officer) who we have been and that my daughter was crying as a result of she had misplaced a member of the family,” MacCarthy stated.
In accordance with a report from the Denver police, “Each Mom and baby have been cleared.”
The report additionally famous that officers have been responding to a “attainable Human Trafficking reported by South West flight attendant” — however MacCarthy says she solely discovered two weeks later that she was suspected of human trafficking.
“I acquired a name from Denver Police human trafficking unit letting me know they have been following up on the incident,” she instructed CNN.
CNN reached out to the Denver Police Division on Sunday afternoon about MacCarthy’s declare however has not acquired a response.
MacCarthy accuses Southwest Airways of racial profiling. She says she’s retained an legal professional and needs the airline to be held “absolutely accountable.”
“I gave the airline loads of time to contact me and apologize — over two weeks later, I’ve but to obtain something greater than two transient automated responses. The time for an apology is long gone,” MacCarthy stated.
Southwest Airways stated it’s “disheartened” by MacCarthy’s account of the occasions and plans to succeed in out to her.
“We’re conducting a assessment of the scenario internally, and we might be reaching out to the Buyer to handle her considerations and provide our apologies for her expertise touring with us. Our Staff endure strong coaching on Human Trafficking. Above all, Southwest Airways prides itself on offering a welcoming and inclusive surroundings for the tens of millions of Clients who journey with us annually,” Southwest Airways spokesperson Dan Landson stated in an announcement to CNN on Sunday.
“Had this been a White baby, there wouldn’t have been a raised eyebrow,” MacCarthy’s legal professional David Lane instructed CNN.
