Airline boss admits treatment of man dragged from jet ‘horrific’
THE BOSS of United Airlines is pledging to review policies after a passenger was dragged off a full flight in Chicago.
After earlier describing the passenger as “disruptive and belligerent”, Oscar Munoz said he was “ashamed” and that that no one should be mistreated that way. He described the removal of the doctor by airport police as “truly horrific”.
Mr Munoz also said the company would reassess policies for seeking volunteers to give up their seats, for handling oversold flights and for partnering with airport authorities.
Meanwhile, details emerged about the passenger, who was identified as 69-year-old Kentucky physician David Dao.
The doctor was seen with a bloodied face on mobile phone recordings by other passengers at O’Hare Airport.
He was convicted more than a decade ago of fraud involving prescribing of drugs and spent years trying to regain his licence, during which time he turned his hand to professional poker.
Dr Dao is being treated at a Chicago hospital for injuries he suffered on the plane and has not spoken publicly about the incident.
The Chicago Aviation Department has said only that one of its employees who removed Dr Dao did not follow proper procedures and has been placed on leave.
United was trying to make room for four employees of a partner airline. At first, the airline asked for volunteers, offering $400 (£320) and then when that did not work, $800 (£640) per passenger to relinquish a seat. When no one voluntarily came forward, United selected four passengers at random.
Dr Dao refused to leave and a video made by a fellow passenger showed him screaming as he was dragged from his window seat, across the armrest and down the aisle by his arms.
Other passengers on Flight 3411 are heard saying, “Please, my God”, ‘’What are you doing?”, ‘’This is wrong”, ‘’Look at what you did to him”, and “Busted his lip”.