American Airlines sued after removal of passenger Melanie Mellon and her service dogs

American Airlines is facing a lawsuit for allegedly breaching the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) after a flight attendant reportedly threatened and removed 73-year-old passenger Melanie Mellon from a regional flight in January because she was travelling with her two Bichon Frise service dogs.

According to PYOK, Mellon says the employee treated her aggressively and made her leave the aircraft under threat. She states that she is a regular customer of the airline and has flown on numerous occasions with her dogs in approved carriers, without any previous issues.

American Airlines dispute involving Bichon Frise service dogs

The incident took place on a flight operated by regional subsidiary Piedmont Airlines. Although she advised staff at check-in that she required priority boarding because of her disability, she was not called for pre-boarding. Once on the aircraft, she says the flight attendant unexpectedly arranged for her removal.

After being taken off the plane, Melanie was allegedly kept against her will in a waiting area, where she feared the situation could escalate. She was later told she could travel on the next flight only if she paid a US$150 fee for each carrier, a charge that is not normally applied to service animals.

Service animal status at the centre of the lawsuit

The dispute centres on whether the dogs should be classed as service animals or pets. The distinction is significant because service animals are entitled to travel in the cabin free of charge once the US Department of Transportation (DOT) form has been submitted. However, the airline has the final say on whether an animal is accepted as a service animal.

Melanie has filed legal proceedings in the US District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, accusing American Airlines of violating the ADA and alleging assault, intentional battery and false imprisonment.