American Airlines Wins suit Claiming Toxic Uniform After 8 Years

DALLAS- A federal judge has dismissed a class action lawsuit against American Airlines (AA) and uniform manufacturer Twin Hill, ending nearly eight years of litigation over claims that company uniforms caused severe health reactions among employees at American Airlines.

The lawsuit, originally filed in 2017, was rejected through summary judgment as plaintiffs failed to provide sufficient evidence linking the uniforms to reported symptoms, including rashes, breathing difficulties, and headaches among pilots and flight attendants.

Photo: Clément Alloing

American Airlines Wins Lawsuit

The uniform controversy began in 2015 when American Airlines partnered with Twin Hill to create new uniforms for approximately 65,000 employees, PYOK reported.

Despite early warning signs during initial wear tests, independent testing found only two chemicals with potential “sensitization” properties, while other chemicals were deemed unlikely to cause reactions.

After a second wear test in Fall 2015, where some employees reported chemical odors, American Airlines proceeded with the uniform rollout in September 2016. What followed was unprecedented—thousands of complaints flooded in through a dedicated hotline and questionnaires established by flight attendant unions.

Within weeks of the uniform deployment, American Airlines implemented damage control measures. Affected employees were permitted to revert to their old uniforms or purchase alternative attire

The airline ordered additional chemical testing, but results continued to show no definitive connection between the uniforms and reported symptoms.

The controversy damaged the uniform’s reputation beyond repair. American Airlines eventually terminated its relationship with Twin Hill and partnered with Lands’ End to develop replacement uniforms, acknowledging the widespread concerns, regardless of scientific findings.

Photo: American Airlines

Legal Proceedings and Ruling

The class action lawsuit featured multiple expert witnesses who supported claims that the uniforms caused various medical conditions. However, in the April 11 ruling, Judge John Tharp Jr. determined that none of the expert testimony was admissible under federal rules of evidence.

The judge specifically questioned the role of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) in the complaint spike, noting: “A new, easily accessible, and widely disseminated reporting portal, coupled with explicit encouragement from the union to use it, might have quite plausibly boosted complaint rates.”

Flight attendants represented the largest group of complainants, with approximately 5,000 crew members reporting issues out of 7,000 total complaints across the airline. The judge suggested the union’s messaging may have influenced employees to attribute various symptoms to their uniforms.

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