American Airlines apologises after black athletes falsely accused of stealing blankets and kicked off plane

American Airlines has apologised following the incident.
AP
Francesca Gillett27 December 2017

American Airlines has apologised after a flight attendant accused two black basketball players of theft and kicking them off a flight.

The two professional athletes were ordered to leave the plane in Dallas, Texas, after a worker for the airline accused them of stealing blankets.

Marquis Teague and Trahson Burrell, who play for Memphis Hustle, boarded the flight bound for Sioux Falls, South Dakota, on Sunday at Dallas/Fort Worth airport.

Two passengers from first class on the flight, which was operated by carrier Envoy Air, gave the players their blankets as they headed to their seats.

But a black flight attendant accused the pair of sportsmen of theft and forced them off of the plane.

Joshua Freed, spokesman for American Airlines, said on Tuesday that an airline manager apologised to the players.

The pair later flew first class to Sioux Falls.

Earlier this month, it was reported employees for the airline were to receive anti-racism training after a powerful civil rights organisation called for a boycott.

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