United, dragged passenger reach settlement agreement

The passenger who was dragged off a United flight after he refused to give up his seat to airline employees settled with the airline for an undisclosed sum Thursday in an apparent attempt by the company to put the fiasco behind it as quickly as possible.

David Dao’s legal team said in a brief statement that the agreement includes a provision that the amount will remain confidential. One of his lawyers praised United CEO Oscar Munoz.

Munoz “said he was going to do the right thing, and he has,” Thomas Demetrio said in the statement. “In addi- tion, United has taken full responsibility for what happened ... without attempting to blame others, including the city of Chicago.”

The settlement came less than three weeks after the episode, before Dao had even sued. The deal means United will not face a lawsuit that could have been costly, both in legal bills and in further public-relations damage.

United issued a brief state- ment, saying it was pleased to report “an amicable resolution of the unfortunate incident that occurred aboard Flight 3411.”

Cellphone video of the April 9 confrontation aboard a jetliner at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport sparked widespread public outrage over the way Dao was treated. It showed airport police officers pulling the 69-year-old Kentucky physician from his seat and dragging him down the aisle. His lawyer said he lost teeth and suffered a broken nose and a concussion.

Demetrio said the settlement also averts any lawsuit against the city of Chicago. Airport police officers who work for the city pulled Dao off the jet.

“I praise Mr. Munoz and his people for not trying to throw the city under the bus or pass the buck,” Demetrio said. “He stood in front of the world and has stated that, ‘We, United, take full responsibility.’”

Demetrio said it was “unheard of” for a company to admit responsibility so quickly and completely.

“I hope corporate America notices when you goof up, people respect you a heck of a lot more when you admit it.”