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United Airlines has resolved a lawsuit concerning racial discrimination against a former employee of Asian descent. The settlement involves the payment of $99,000 and the provision of other reliefs, including flight miles, to the victim. This legal action stemmed from an incident in 2021 where a manager at United allegedly used a racial slur against Alsunbayar Davaabat, who was working as a driver at the company's Denver catering facility.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced that United Airlines has agreed to these terms following accusations that "United allowed an Asian American employee of Mongolian ancestry to be called by a racial slur; physically assaulted; have his employment threatened based on his race and national origin; and delayed investigating the employee’s internal complaint even though it included claims of physical violence."
The altercation occurred when Terry McGurk, then senior manager of food and materials at United, confronted Davaabat about mask-wearing protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic. The situation escalated when McGurk reportedly used a racial slur and engaged in physical contact with Davaabat. Following this event, United's response was criticized for its delay in launching an investigation.
