American Airlines to pay $200,000 to settle blind employee's discrimination lawsuit

American Airlines has settled a disability discrimination lawsuit filed by the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, agreeing to pay $200,000 to a former employee who was terminated after losing her sight.

The case involved a worker at the airline's Fort Worth, Texas facility who developed cortical blindness. According to the EEOC, she asked for technology that would let her keep performing her job duties.

The agency said American did not provide reasonable accommodation for her condition. Instead, the employee was placed on unpaid leave for nearly four years before her employment was ended, the EEOC stated.

The settlement was announced by the EEOC on August 28, 2026. Terms of the agreement include the monetary payment, though the source did not specify whether additional non-financial commitments, such as policy changes, were part of the deal.

The case highlights obligations employers have under US disability law to work with staff who develop impairments during their employment. No further details about the employee's identity or current status were disclosed in the available material.