Page 6 - Short Cases 1 United Airlines

airline employees who needed to travel to the flight

destination. Passengers were initially offered US$400 in

vouchers for future travel on United, subsequently

increased to $800 when no one volunteered, a hotel stay,

and a seat on a plane leaving more than 21 hours later if

they voluntarily deplaned. It was claimed by one passenger

that the airline supervisor said: 'We have United employees

that need to fly to Louisville tonight. … This flight’s not
leaving until four people get off.'

It transpired that after a manager boarded and informed

the flight that four people would be chosen by computer

this selection did not include priority to remain aboard for

frequent fliers and those who paid a higher fare.

Unfortunately, no one took up the offer and Dr. David Dao,

a pulmonologist, and one of four passengers who were

selected to involuntarily to leave the flight, was asked to give

up his seat and leave the aircraft. The other three

passengers complied but he refused and Aviation Security

Officers were called and dragged him off.

Regrettably for United, passengers videoed the incident as

Dao initially pleading that he had to get to Louisville to see

patients the next day at his clinic was pulled screaming out

of his seat with his face hitting an armrest during the

struggle. He was then dragged by the arms, apparently

unconscious, along the aircraft aisle to the exit bleeding

from the mouth. He was removed from the aircraft on a
stretcher after collapsing.