Update: Police Bloody United Passenger, Internet Attacks United Airlines
By now, you’ve probably heard about the United Airlines passenger who was forcibly removed from a United Express flight from Chicago to Louisville. The flight, United Express 3411, was overbooked. United Airlines offered passengers $800 and a free hotel room as compensation if they gave up their seat. It turns out that four crew members who were deadheading (repositioning to another city) resulted in the overbooking situation.
United went ahead and boarded the flight event though it was overbooked. After gate agents and crew discovered that there weren’t enough seats for the four crew commuting to Louisville, United Airlines decided it was time to forcibly remove passengers in order to accommodate the crew.
A doctor and his wife were targeted. They were offered the buyout ($800+hotel room), however, the refused. The doctor pleaded stating that it was essential that he get to Louisville that night.
Law Enforcement Called to Flight to Remove Couple
After the doctor and his wife refused to leave the aircraft, United Airlines decided to call in law enforcement. This isn’t completely unheard of. The police were called simply to escort the passenger off the aircraft so the flight could leave Chicago. What happens next is horrifying.
Three officers were brought onto the aircraft to escort the doctor and his wife. After the doctor refused to give up his seat, one of the officers viciously yanked the doctor from his seat. The two other officers grabbed the passenger. When the officers violently removed the passenger from his seat, they smashed his face into a part of the seat. His mouth began to gush blood. At this point in the video, I began to get chills.
The man was then carried like an animal through the aisle and off the aircraft. His wife followed behind the officers.
Soon after the altercation, the man returned to the aircraft. The doctor is seen pleading with the entire aircraft stating that he “needs to get home.” When he returned to the aircraft, the man was bleeding profusely from his mouth. He was hysterical. At one point he was begging for his life. He was ultimately removed from the aircraft.
Graphic video and images of the man were shared on social media following this incident.
#flythefriendlyskies @united no words. This poor man!! pic.twitter.com/rn0rbeckwT
— Kaylyn Davis (@kaylyn_davis) April 10, 2017
I’m Not Defending United
In an earlier post, I completely defended United Airlines. At the time, the severity of the incident was not known. I tend to give crew members the benefit of the doubt. The way in wich United Airlines handled this incident was poor. However, it should be noted, United Airlines, United Express, and Republic Airlines operating on behalf of United did not remove the passenger from the aircraft.
Social media users are claiming that United Airlines’ crew attacked and bloodied this man. That is not the case. What United Airlines is responsible for is following the widely accepted contract of carriage. This contract of carriage gives airlines almost unlimited power over passengers during overbooking of flights.
United Airline’s CEO Oscar Munoz Responds
Police bloody United Airlines passenger, United responds (Image: United.com)
The man was bloodied by law enforcement, not United. United’s contract of carriage essentially guaranteed United complete control over passenger when they refused to give up their seat in the overbooked situation. Let me be clear, I hate this part of the contract of carriage. I hate knowing that airlines can overbook flights and remove passengers if they don’t get enough volunteers. Passengers and elected officials have tried to ensure the rights of passengers in these situations, however, there are very few laws in place that protect passengers.
What’s truly disgusting is how law enforcement responded. They violently attacked the man and bloodied his face. They attack this passenger because he refused to give up his seat. The man refused to give up his seat because he paid for a ticket. For that, he was viciously attacked by those who are supposed to protect him.
UPDATE: According to multiple sources, one of the officers who removed this passenger has been placed on leave
Overall
I apologize for my previous post. I gave United too much leeway and failed to see the big picture. Airlines have almost complete control over an aircraft in a case of an overbooked flight. Passenger rights are few and in between. However, what I want readers to take away from this is that the United Airline’s crew in this incident did not attack and beat this man, law enforcement did.
Again, my apologies.
While thinking about the facts, I believe that the compensation was not $800, but a $800 travel voucher. There’s a big difference.
You must be joking. Because the United staff didn’t actually do the beating they can avoid accepting responsibility? Surely that’s like saying that contracting someone to commit a crime on your behalf makes you completely innocent. Why didn’t the staff step forward and stop what was happening? Why might the law enforcement officers have thought this was what united wanted? I’m guessing it’s not the first instance of heavy handed behaviour. And as for the fact it appears that no passengers stepped forward to volunteer to leave the plane as I would most certainly have done? All I can say… Read more »
Hmmmm,,,, perhaps Southwest Airlines could buy out United Airlines.
Are you kidding??? The pilot of the plane is responsible for what happens in the plane. United is responsible.
Boycott U.A.
Yeah right, nobody boycotted after 2 of their planes were highjacked on 9/11.
Bottom Line: United determined flying their Employees was more important than flying passengers with reserved seats. Usually denying boarding for “over booking” is handled before any passengers have boarded and if enough people do not give up their seat, the last ones to check in are denied boarding first. Except, if the last ones to check in happen to be United Employees on a United flight.
I honestly would have given up my seat for this man if it wasn’t an emergency. More of those people on the plane could have given up their seat. Not saying it’s their fault but they just sat there and watched it. I would have said “here give him my seat, I’ll leave, but noone did”. Not their fault but just saying. They did ask the people on the plane to give up their seats. Even after the man came back on the airline still noone gave up their seat for this man. That is what I find just as… Read more »
Totally agree with you. What a sad indictment of the country.
ALOHA Sherri Banks, I was just as mortified as you were. Having family on the Mainland (I live in Hawai’i), we fly to the mainland as often as we can to visit. Every time we fly, we make it part of our plans to take an offer from the airline and give up our seats if needed. (We’ve been compensated and upgraded to first class, so it’s a win/win) I find it extremely disappointing that NOT ONE PASSENGER was willing to give up their seat for that poor man and his wife. What many don’t know is that after the… Read more »
I agree with CEP! United was “driving the bus” on this and they had full control until they “called the cops” and everyone knows when you “call the cops” anything can happen and anything did happen. United could have and should have done a lot more to avoid “calling the cops.” Is $800 enough for missing a wedding that I was attending the next day? Or missing the last moments of a loved one dying the hospital? Or missing that serious job interview that could have transformed my career? Were there any assurances that I would be on the next… Read more »
Rule 25 of United’s Contract of Carriage claim’s the right to deny a passenger boarding when there is an overbooking situation and there aren’t enough volunteers. Nowhere do I read anything about being able to retroactively revoke boarding to a passenger they have already granted boarding to. Just as claiming that needing to re-position four crew members is overbooking is really just an excuse, so to is trying to hide behind rule 25. I had my own unacceptable experience with United on Thursday, so I’m in no mood to be charitable to United. United’s treatment of this passenger and the… Read more »
why people keep referring to contract of carriage is beyond me; he was already boarded. that’s what boarding implies, ‘to board’ once you’re on the plane you’ve now completed boarding. Passengers whom are on the plane have been boarded, that process is now completed. You cannot refer to contract of carriage within this circumstance, which implies passengers that have yet to be boarded whom are still outside the gate and in line have yet to complete the process stated in the contract of carriage. United has every right to apply the contract of carriage, but that passenger had already been… Read more »
Yeah this usually happens when people start taking sides without having all facts. One would think that bloggers would’ve learned by now.
While it was police officers that assaulted the passenger, United is completely at fault for totally mishandling the situation. Why did they announce that four people needed to get off the plane because they needed to fly employees? Where was the Captain in all of this? What did United personnel do when police assaulted the passenger? Who the hell thought that Oscar’s statement was adequately worded?
Completely agree with all of your points. I’m still wondering where the crew is during this ordeal. Where is the captain? Munoz’s statement was poor at best.
-Max P.