Video of passenger dragged off flight sparks uproar

CHICAGO — Video of police officers dragging a passenger from an overbooked United Airlines flight sparked an uproar Monday on social media, but United’s CEO defended his employees, saying they followed proper procedures.

One security officer involved, however, has been placed on leave, the Chicago Aviation Department said.

As Flight 341 waited to depart from Chicago’s O’Hare Airport, officers could be seen grabbing the screaming man from a window seat, pulling him across the armrest and dragging him down the aisle. United was trying to make room for four employees of a partner airline on the Sunday evening flight to Louisville, Kentucky.

Passenger Audra D. Bridges posted the video on Facebook. Her husband, Tyler Bridges, said United offered $400 and then $800 vouchers and a hotel stay for volunteers to give up their seats, but when no one volunteered, a United manager came aboard and announced that passengers would be chosen at random.

In a statement and a letter to employees, Oscar Munoz, CEO of United Airlines’ parent company, said he was “upset to see and hear about what happened” but that the man had ignored requests to leave and became “disruptive and belligerent,” forcing employees to call police.

“While I deeply regret this situation arose, I also emphatically stand behind all of you, and I want to commend you for continuing to go above and beyond to ensure we fly right,” Munoz told employees.

The flight was operated by Republic Airline, which United hires to fly United Express flights. Munoz said four Republic employees approached United’s gate agents after the plane was fully loaded and said they needed to board.

The passenger who refused to leave told the manager that he was a doctor who needed to see patients in the morning, Mr. Bridges said. The AP was unable to confirm the passenger’s identity.

Two officers tried to reason with the man before a third came aboard and pointed at the man, “basically saying, ‘Sir, you have to get off the plane,’” Mr. Bridges said. That’s when he was removed.

The man later returned, looking dazed. In a video, he can be seen standing in the aircraft, with blood on his mouth, chin and cheek, saying, “I want to go home.”

Officers prepared to eject him, but by that point many fed-up passengers started to get off the plane, Mr. Bridges said. Eventually, United told everyone to get off, he said.

After a three-hour delay, the flight took off without the man aboard, Mr. Bridges said.