United Airlines removes couple, travelling to wedding from plane

NEWYORK: An engaged couple were removed from a United Airlines flight to Costa Rica on Saturday, as the airline remained under scrutiny following outrage caused by a video last week of a passenger being forcibly removed from a flight.

According to the couple, who said they were en route to get married, a federal marshal had escorted them from the plane before take-off from Houston, Texas, but United denied this on Sunday, saying in a statement that neither a marshal nor other authorities was involved. The couple “repeatedly attempted to sit in upgraded seating which they did not purchase and they would not follow crew instructions to return to their assigned seats,” United said in a statement, adding “They were asked to leave the plane by our staff and complied.” The statement from a United spokeswoman said the airline offered the couple a discounted hotel rate for the night, and rebooked them on a Sunday morning flight. But Michael Hohl and his fianc, Amber Maxwell, told KHOU they tried to pay for upgraded seating and were denied, after finding another passenger sleeping across their seats when they were the last to board. After moving within the economy cabin a few rows up, flight crew denied their request to pay a supplement for the seats, which United sells as “economy plus”, and told them to move back to their original seats, Hohl said. “We thought not a big deal, it’s not like we are trying to jump up into a firstclass seat,” Hohl said. “We were simply in an economy row a few rows above our economy seat,” he added. ISLAMABAD: The US on Monday asked Pakistan to “confront” terrorism in all its forms as America’s National Security Adviser held talks with the top civilian and military leadership here during an unannounced visit, the first by a top Trump administration official to this country.

US National Security Adviser (NSA) H R Mcmaster, who arrived here earlier in the day, held talks with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Pakistan NSA Lt Gen (retd) Nasser Janjua and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Syed Tariq Fatemi.

“Mcmaster expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s democratic and economic development, and stressed the need to confront terrorism in all its forms,” said a US Embassy statement on Mcmaster’s meeting with the top civilian and military leadership here.

The two sides discussed a range of bilateral and regional issues, it said.

During Mcmaster’s call on, Sharif, while talking about Indo-pak ties, reiterated his “firm conviction” to sustained dialogue and meaningful engagement as the only way forward to resolve all outstanding issues, including the Kashmir dispute, a Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) statement said.

Sharif welcomed President Trump’s willingness to help India and Pakistan resolve their differences particularly on Kashmir.