A former flight attendant has taken legal action against a major airline, alleging racial discrimination in violation of federal civil rights laws. Deatrik Bledsoe filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on February 25, 2025, accusing Southwest Airlines Co. of discriminatory practices that led to his wrongful termination.
The case centers around Bledsoe's allegations that he was unjustly terminated by Southwest Airlines due to racial discrimination. Bledsoe, an African American and resident of the Northern District of Illinois, had been employed as a flight attendant with Southwest since February 25, 2000. According to the complaint, he had consistently received favorable reviews and accolades from his superiors until October 2023 when the alleged discriminatory actions began. On October 12, 2023, while off duty and traveling as a passenger from Chicago to Jackson, Mississippi for a university homecoming event at Jackson State University, Bledsoe was detained by Southwest employees who claimed he appeared intoxicated. Despite not having consumed alcohol and being off duty at the time, Bledsoe complied with a breathalyzer test but was subsequently removed from the airport.
Upon returning to Chicago, Bledsoe voluntarily enrolled in an alcohol treatment program at Rosecrance in Rockford, Illinois and completed it in November 2023. However, despite successfully completing the program and meeting all requirements for reinstatement under Southwest's Return to Cabin Program—later renamed Recovery Support Return to Cabin Program—Bledsoe was informed in January 2024 that he would not be allowed back into his position. The decision was allegedly based on his "poor work history," which Bledsoe contends is a pretext for racial discrimination.
Bledsoe asserts that other Caucasian employees who completed similar programs were allowed to return to their positions without issue. He claims that Southwest's refusal to reinstate him constitutes racial discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended by the Civil Rights Act of 1991. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) received Bledsoe’s charge of discrimination on August 7, 2024 and issued him a notice of right to sue on February 25, 2025.
In seeking redress from the court, Bledsoe requests several forms of relief including an injunction against further discriminatory practices by Southwest Airlines; reinstatement with comparable pay; compensation for lost salary, benefits and seniority; front pay if reinstatement is not possible; compensatory and punitive damages as authorized under Title VII; attorney’s fees; costs; prejudgment interest; and any other relief deemed appropriate by the court.
Representing Deatrik Bledsoe is attorney Joel F. Handler from Handler Law Group located at One E. Wacker Drive in Chicago. The case is presided over by judges assigned within Case ID: 1:25-cv-01970.