A newly married ex-cop is suing an airline for ruining his honeymoon - after wrongly accusing him of "trafficking" his younger bride during their flight. Anthony Williams, 63, claims he was racially profiled as he travelled with his wife, Russian national Katsiaryna Shasholka, 34. The duo smiled for a photo after boarding the American Airlines flight AA2408 from Phoenix to Miami as they jetted off for their dream post-wedding break - but were left reeling after they were detained on arrival at their destination.
According to the lawsuit, a fellow passenger suspected Shasholka was being trafficked and reported his concerns to crew members, who alerted law enforcement in Florida - without bothering to question the couple. The ex-police officer is now suing the airline for the "heinous" accusation made against him due to racial profiling. The offence of trafficking carries a sentence of up to 20 years jail time.
Williams claims in the suit they were "falsely imprisoned by American Airlines employees whom escorted them off the plane", saying "they were made to wait confused and embarrassed as the other passengers deplaned and walked by them." They were then held and questioned by Miami-Dade police officers, according to the US Mirror.
The papers reveal that due to this incident, the couple suffered from "mental pain and suffering, sleeplessness, paranoia, panic attacks, fear, anxiety, [and] embarrassment". Speaking to the Independent, Williams said: "There was nothing in our interactions the entire flight that would be indicative of somebody who was being held against their will. We were just two people having a good time.".
