Airline Thugs drag passenger off of overbooked flight

Source: Tampa Bay Times
Published: Apr 10, 2017
Author: Times staff
Post Date: 2017-04-10 12:09:32 by Willie Green
Views: 4519

Videos posted to Facebook and Twitter show a passenger on United Airlines Flight 3411 being dragged from the plane before takeoff at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport.

Audra D. Bridges posted one video to Facebook at 7:30 p.m. Sunday that appears to show three officers speaking with the man seconds before grabbing him and pulling his from his seat. The man screams as he is dragged down the aisle of the plane that was scheduled to fly to Louisville, Ky.

The Courier-Journal reported that a United spokesperson confirmed in an email Sunday night that a passenger had been taken off a flight in Chicago.

"Flight 3411 from Chicago to Louisville was overbooked," the spokesperson said. "After our team looked for volunteers, one customer refused to leave the aircraft voluntarily and law enforcement was asked to come to the gate.

"We apologize for the overbook situation. Further details on the removed customer should be directed to authorities."

On Monday, another United spokesman, Charlie Hobart, said airline employees named four customers who had to leave the plane and that three of them did so. He said law enforcement was called when the fourth person refused to get off the plane.

"We followed the right procedures," Hobart told the Associated Press in a phone interview. "That plane had to depart. We wanted to get our customers to their destinations, and when one gentleman refused to get off the aircraft, we had to call the Chicago Police Department."

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#1: HomerBohn    To: Willie Green (#0)

DON'T TRAVEL UNITED!

HomerBohn posted on 2017-04-10 12:20:36   Reply   Private Reply

#2: Tooconservative    To: HomerBohn, Willie Green (#1)

This isn't much of a story really but Willie's version is so incomplete that it should be disregarded.

Here's a much better story (including the part where the man who was removed, supposedly a doctor, was returned to his seat bloodied and allowed to fly).

HotAir: Video: Security drags screaming United Airlines passenger off overbooked flight — literally

The flight was only "overbooked" because United decided to boot passengers off so it could deadhead 4 flight crew. Now it's all blown up on them, they get bad press, and that bloody doctor is very likely to sue them and possibly the Chicago PD.

Tooconservative posted on 2017-04-10 12:37:33   Reply   Private Reply

#3: HomerBohn    To: Tooconservative (#2)

Interesting that all three videos taken of the events were removed. The Chicago Police boarding and dragging this doctor off the plane deserve to be sued as does United for inviting the goons onboard. The Chicago cops, whose chief is a very homely lesbian, can't control the crime in their city, but can be toadies to the airline.

Amazing

HomerBohn posted on 2017-04-10 12:53:11   Reply   Private Reply

#4: Gatlin    To: Tooconservative (#2)

Thanks for taking time to look this up and post it ...

Gatlin posted on 2017-04-10 12:54:34   Reply   Private Reply

#5: Willie Green    To: Tooconservative (#2)

but Willie's version is so incomplete that it should be disregarded.

Hey, I included the "Click for Full Text!" link because the Twitter posts that were in the rest of the article don't post well on this forum. (Or at least I haven't figured out how to do it without it being a royal pain in the butt.)

Willie Green posted on 2017-04-10 12:54:54   Reply   Private Reply

#6: Tooconservative    To: Gatlin (#4)

Thanks for taking time to look this up and post it ...

Saw it in passing over at HotGas and thought the story, such as it is, deserved a fuller report.

If we want abbreviated and incomplete reporting, we can just post Free Thought Project articles.

Tooconservative posted on 2017-04-10 13:29:04   Reply   Private Reply

#7: Gatlin    To: Tooconservative (#6)

If we want abbreviated and incomplete reporting, we can just post Free Thought Project articles.

Yea ...

Gatlin posted on 2017-04-10 15:45:45   Reply   Private Reply

#8: Tooconservative    To: Gatlin, Willie Green, HomerBohn (#7)

Good background on how this happened.

The Federalist: Here’s The Real Reason Airlines Like United Constantly Overbook Your Flights

Tooconservative posted on 2017-04-10 16:18:46   Reply   Private Reply

#9: jeremiad    To: Willie Green (#0)

The guy was an asshole. He was asked to leave and he should have done so. Everything that happened after that was on him. The 4 person flight crew was more important to United than 4 passengers. That makes sense to me, these people typically get $1,000 plus or minus to move their flight time. The guy could rent a car and almost beat the flight home. The flight crew was possibly so tired they would have had to layover and it would cost United much more than the $4,000 cost of removing passengers. I would have gotten off, if someone I was traveling with would have thrown this big of a fuss, I would be both embarrassed and would evaluate the relationship.

jeremiad posted on 2017-04-10 22:53:26   Reply   Private Reply

#10: Fred Mertz    To: jeremiad (#9)

The guy was an asshole. He was asked to leave and he should have done so.

You're the asshole here, jere. Are you mrwhite's twin brother?

Fred Mertz posted on 2017-04-10 23:00:47   Reply   Private Reply

#11: goldilucky    To: jeremiad (#9)

Your signature tagline betrays any genuine ideals you hold towards a persons right to free will. This guy chose to stay on the airline. He broke no law. The people who broke the laws are the travel agents who did the overbooking. There needs to be a law submitted to Congress to stop this type of illegal overbooking of flights just to create havoc like this. Those travel agents know the risk involved in empty seats. If this shit continues, expect less of people flying to the point that it will compel such flight companies to shut down business. The future of travel won't be with flights. It will be with international trams.

goldilucky posted on 2017-04-11 00:03:52   Reply   Private Reply

#12: nativist nationalist    To: HomerBohn (#1)

nativist nationalist posted on 2017-04-11 03:30:29   Reply   Private Reply

#13: Tooconservative    To: nativist nationalist, jeremiad, Willie Green, Gatlin, Goldilucky, Fred Mertz, HomerBohn (#12)

Some newer coverage, including the bloody face of 69yo doctor:

BGR: ‘Just kill me,’ United passenger says as he drools blood in new video

One of the cops has been suspended, apparently for roughness.

I'll try to embed the pic here at LF, otherwise visit the link.

A new video shows a moment that happened about ten minutes after the initial removal, according to witnesses. The passenger came running back onto the flight, went to the rear of the aircraft, and clutched a post, mumbling “just kill me” and “I want to go home” repeatedly.

Ka-ching! A very profitable trip for the doctor.

Tooconservative posted on 2017-04-11 15:03:40   Reply   Private Reply

#14: Gatlin    To: Tooconservative (#13)

The situation was mishandled in every respect by the airline personnel and the cops.

The passenger should have never been mistreated by dragging him off the aircraft.

However, the passenger is either a friggin’ nutcase, acting so “Deckardish” like….or he knew exactly what he was doing all the time while mentally counting the mega bucks coming his way after the lawsuit.

I go for the latter …

Well …

Maybe he was just being “Deckardish.”

WTH - Who knows …

Gatlin posted on 2017-04-11 16:24:34   Reply   Private Reply

#15: goldilucky    To: Tooconservative (#13)

According to the statements and reports that we have currently, it would appear that the United flight was full, but four United employees needed seats on the flight. So, the airline initially asked for volunteers, offering up to $800 in vouchers, a hotel room, and a flight home on Monday afternoon.

From your posted link, I quote the above in part. Booking flights involves several necessary steps before completing it. It is the job of the travel agent at the terminal and the travel agency who booked this flight to know how many employees are to be reserved a flight seat BEFORE booking your client. Then the next step involves finding out the seating capacity to see if there are open seats. Finally, the agent checks to ascertain their client is not on a "No-Fly List" before making further actions. If the client is cleared, and there are open seats available, the agent may book the client the flight and collect the necessary funds to complete this transaction. Once the client has paid in full for their flight ticket and other arrangements, it becomes the responsibility of the travel agent to keep updates in the case where the flight has been cancelled so that their client may either get a full refund or a voucher to transfer to a different airline. This thing about "overbooking flights" has become such a burden that I am surprised that no Public Proposal before members of Congress on this matter has not been initiated.

goldilucky posted on 2017-04-11 16:41:40   Reply   Private Reply

#16: Tooconservative    To: goldilucky (#15)

This thing about "overbooking flights" has become such a burden that I am surprised that no Public Proposal before members of Congress on this matter has not been initiated.

This case could propel Congress into action against overbooking.

They're going to spend a lot to buy off this old doctor. That picture of him with a bloody mouth is awful for United. And United won't be happy to be deposed on how and why this happened and what their actual internal policy is with these types of removals of passengers, etc. They won't want that seen by the public along with a year of so of reminders every time the doctor's legal team gets them into court.

I think United will try for a quick settlement with a non-disclosure clause.

Tooconservative posted on 2017-04-11 18:46:48   Reply   Private Reply

#17: Tooconservative    To: Gatlin, goldilucky, HomerBohn (#14)

AceOfSpades:

United CEO: "I'm Sorry"
But, Meanwhile, Newspaper Runs Story Dredging Up Dragged Passenger's Past

—Ace

When you say "I'm sorry" and "no one should be mistreated this way," I think you've decided that the settlement is inevitable, and will cost less than the bad PR.

Update: United's public stock "plunges" in wake of passenger being dragged off plane.

Meanwhile, the Courier-Journal got a hold of the dragged-off passenger's name and discovered a "troubled past."

Dao was trying to regain his medical license when he worked at the practice from August 2015 to August 2016, Nadeau said. Dao had surrendered his medical license in February 2005 after being convicted of drug-related offenses, according to documents filed with the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure last June. Broadcast and print coverage of Dao's arrest, conviction and sentencing made his name familiar to Kentuckians.

...

Dao, who went to medical school in Vietnam in the 1970s before moving to the U.S., has worked as a pulmonologist in Elizabethtown but was arrested in 2003 and eventually convicted of drug-related offenses after an undercover investigation, according to the documents filed with the state board of medical licensure.

The licensure board documents allege that he was involved in fraudulent prescriptions for controlled substances and was sexually involved with a patient who used to work for his practice and assisted police in building a case against him.

Dao was convicted of multiple felony counts of obtaining drugs by fraud and deceit in November 2004 and was placed on five years of supervised probation in January 2005, according to the documents. He surrendered his medical license the next month.

The Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure permitted Dao to resume practicing medicine in 2015 under certain conditions.


Well, well, well. A crooked doctor who got a bloody mouth. Interesting to see how slowly any real facts dribble out in this story. That's because professionalism in news reporting seems to be at an all-time low.

Tooconservative posted on 2017-04-11 18:55:45   Reply   Private Reply

#18: Tooconservative    To: All (#17)

United is paying a hefty price for the viral outrage over a passenger being dragged off an overbooked flight Sunday.

Shares of United Continental had plummeted 3 percent by noon Tuesday, cutting hundreds of millions of dollars off the company's value.

After holding steady Monday, shares in the airline fell Tuesday as the controversy spread over social media in response to video showing a passenger, Kentucky doctor David Dao, being forcibly and violently removed from his seat on an overbooked flight from Chicago to Louisville, Ky., Sunday night.


Bad news for United stock.

Tooconservative posted on 2017-04-11 19:29:54   Reply   Private Reply

#19: goldilucky    To: Tooconservative (#17)

What does a felony record or a troubled past have to do with the present situation? This sounds illogical and subjective reasoning. He is not on a "No Fly List" otherwise if he was he would never have been allowed to board.

And yes, United Airlines has admitted their actions were deemed unacceptable in that no passenger should ever be treated like this. They admit wrongdoing in this and are willing to make amends with this passenger.

goldilucky posted on 2017-04-11 21:13:59   Reply   Private Reply

#20: Tooconservative    To: goldilucky (#19)

What does a felony record or a troubled past have to do with the present situation?

Legally? Probably nothing. It's unlikely a judge will let them bring it up in court.

Tooconservative posted on 2017-04-11 21:52:17   Reply   Private Reply

#21: Gatlin    To: Tooconservative (#17)

… after being convicted of drug-related offenses …
Ah ha!

… drug-related …

I told you he could have been acting “Deckardish” …

See, I was right …

Gatlin posted on 2017-04-11 22:33:48   Reply   Private Reply

#22: Tooconservative    To: Gatlin (#21)

He was running a pill mill. Not accused of being an addict. At least, that is the impression I get.

Tooconservative posted on 2017-04-11 22:40:53   Reply   Private Reply

#23: Tooconservative    To: All (#22)

The doctor checked into a hospital and hire a high-powered lawyer.

Chicago Tribune:

United Airlines' initial attempt Monday to quell mounting outrage over viral videos of a passenger being dragged from his seat added fuel to the backlash against the airline. So on Tuesday, CEO Oscar Munoz called the event "truly horrific" in a second apology.

But while United was crafting another bid to defuse the situation, the flood of angry comments and memes on social media was replaced by tough questions from local and federal authorities and a mention of the incident by the White House.

Meanwhile, David Dao, the passenger at the center of the growing imbroglio, retained a high-powered Chicago personal injury lawyer, Thomas Demetrio.

Dao was in a Chicago hospital undergoing treatment for his injuries Tuesday, according to a statement from Demetrio, who is helping represent Dao and his family.

Demetrio's practice centers on medical negligence, product liability, airplane crash and commercial litigation on behalf of plaintiffs and he has negotiated more than $1 billion in settlements, according to the firm's website.

Tooconservative posted on 2017-04-12 16:20:39   Reply   Private Reply

#24: Tooconservative    To: All, Gatlin, goldilucky, HomerBohn, hondo68 (#17)

Now it's a popular meme.

Tooconservative posted on 2017-04-12 21:04:20   Reply   Private Reply

#25: Tooconservative    To: All (#24)

To anyone still following this tragicomedy, all three arresting officers have now been suspended.

And the doctor's lawyers and daughter have scheduled a big ol' press conference. It's just a nightmare for United.

Tooconservative posted on 2017-04-13 09:47:21   Reply   Private Reply