Premise
What an amazingly shocking turn of events today, with a United Airlines flight being overbooked and a passenger forcibly removed from the plane. In addition to being dragged by airport security, he was bloodied, injured heavily, and may have suffered a concussion. But wait, there’s more!
United CEO Oscar Munoz addressed the incident in an email to employees, blaming the passenger. Additionally, a few Democrats in Congress and Senate have called for an inquiry or hearing into the situation.
United Airlines Doubles Down
Even after the unfortunate euphemism of “re-accommodation”, United CEO Oscar Munoz doubled down on his position. He supports his employees, who forcibly removed and injured a passenger who paid for his ticket. He claims that employees “followed established procedures” and called the passenger “disruptive and belligerent”. Not only was the passenger dragged off the plane, he was also severely injured. He may have had a concussion, and was bleeding profusely. What an example of customer service.
I don’t know what world he lives in, but with all the poor PR responses to incidents I have seen this may take the case. I’m not sure where United thinks removing a paying customer forcibly is a good move, but it surely will cost them thousands if not hundreds of thousands in lost revenue and business, and certainly encourage many to think critically before using them for travel.
Government Weighs In
However, a couple Democrats, including a senior member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, have called for a hearing to question airport personnel and police, as well as United Airlines about the incident.
Senator Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut, similarly tweeted about Airline Passenger Protections for travelers.
If these will actually lead to an inquiry or hearing is another story, as Republicans control the majority in the House and Senate, and thus set the rules. Why no Congressional Republican has not commented publicly, or on behalf of the injured passenger, is intriguing, but not up for discussion.
It will be interesting to see if this actually comes to pass – I would love to see such a hearing. Reforms are necessary, and perhaps this incident leads to tighter regulation.
Conclusion
Stay tuned for updates in this developing story – it is an interesting one to follow. I sincerely hope some positive resolution and restitution is reached for the injured passenger. I have yet to experience voluntary or involuntary deplaning, as my flights aren’t as full. However, I would usually jump for a chance for a voucher. Of course, that also assumes the amount is high enough and my trip is not as essential. Lastly, I sincerely hope that the four United Airlines crew who got on that plane think about their actions. Were they worth the firestorm that is still growing?
Have you been deplaned involuntarily or given compensation? Let me know in the comments!
Featured Image is a United plane. Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links which, should you click through and/or make a purchase, grant me a commission. Also, I only post in the best interest of my readers. Lastly, thank you for supporting my blog and my travels.
What do you think of my writing? Have any questions? Let me know in the comments, or reach me directly at TheHotelion@gmail.com! Like my posts? See more here, on TravelUpdate! Follow me on Facebook (The Hotelion) or on Twitter and Instagram: @TheHotelion
looks like the Dr. is getting more attention than he planned on due to his history
‘Why no Congressional Republican has not commented publicly, or on behalf of the injured passenger, is intriguing, but not up for discussion.’
Why is that intriguing? Don’t try to make this into a political let alone a partisan issue please. It isn’t.
Surprised this hasn’t been turned into a race issue by the media tbh…surely if the gentlemen was of darker color and with the officers being Caucasian, it would have immediately been labeled a race issue.
As for everything else, this is a horrible situation. No passenger should have to endure this. United F’d up and needs to just fall on the sword. It was essentially a lose lose situation from the start that nobody was going to win, United or any of the passengers. With that said, when we all book our tickets we are agreeing to the terms that if a flight is overbooked we may be required to give up our seat without A.) notice and B.) voluntary action needing not be required. With that said, I’m sure this will go to court, most likely civil, and I’m sure united will settle for a huge chunk of change.
Just my 2 cents. Hope the the guy heals up quickly and this crap stops happening!!
United didn’t “F’d up”. This guy refused to comply with the terms and conditions of his contract of carriage, violated established procedure in the C.F.R., and acted worse than a 2-year old. I agree reform needs to happen to IDR, but I am glad that UA is standing behind their employees. I refuse to fly with a passenger who thinks that can act in any way that they desire.
No he did not. The moment he was seated it was United at fault. In order for it to count as tresspassing he would have to be denied prior to boarding only to board anyway. Maybe you should stop reading BS being passed around trying to blame the passenger. The next flight to that airport would have been on Monday making him lose a day and if sources are right in that he is a doctor who has patients to see that day then it was a piss poor choice on the airline’s part and they should have made the offer better than $800 since it was more than a 2 hour delay for the sisplaced passengers.
You may want to read up on your contract and administrative law. United has the ability to IDR up until the plane literally takes off.
I don’t care with the guy was a doctor or not. He is not special. From the facts it appears that UA treated all their customers fairly in the lottery process.
I did and fly quite abit so I have to know what’s in order. I also trained as a pilot and in operating procedure so stop being an autist and actually think instead of going by what the defenders are saying because you are repeating them word for word. Passengers still have rights and this was handled poorly from the start with last minute arrivals by employees supposedly on standby either on a courtesy flight or a relocation (in which case there are jump seats that can be used with the one located on the flight deck is at the pilot’s discretion but usually permitted for another pilot in the carrier or partner carrier). There were plenty of other solutions available and it was on United/ Republic Airways to deal with and not the passengers unless absolutely necessary as a final resort. Then it goes by class, boarding, reservation etc.
You might want to read up yourself. They are required to provide to him in writing and did not do so. United also claimed in 2013 in questioning by congress that they are not removing passengers they have issued boarding passes to. All those folks are guaranteed a seat.
Austin as in Texas? I thought you Texas boys stood up against wrongs and didn’t cower in the face of adversity. Guess not.
Provide exactly what in writing? And where are you barred at?
No one is ever guaranteed a seat … read the DOT rules in the CFR. Yes, I stand up for what is right. Refusing to get off of plane because you are a doctor is not right.
You cannot be guaranteed a seat if you are on an overbooked flight.
Look, the reality is you are solely at the mercy of the airline if they want to fly you or not. Even if you are seated you can still be removed by an airline at their discretion.
Secondly, I’m conflicted by this incident. It shouldn’t have happened and the guy shouldn’t have been so belligerent.
Either wau United is going to pay fir this (lost sales and payout to the geezer).
The flight was not overbooked. The end.
It does not matter. If an airline wants you off the aircraft you are off the aircraft.
If you argue and become belligerent then all that’s going to happen is security will be called and you will be forcibly removed from the aircraft. That is the end of the story. It’s then up to you to sue them.
LOL make up your mind you are the one who wrongly stated the flight was overbooked. Here is the bottom line. United F’d up and will pay heavily.
It does not change the fact that United is well within its rights to remove any passenger it wants from any flight.
Just because you have a ticket does not mean you are absolutely guaranteed to get from A to B. If an airline wants you off an aircraft you are off the aircraft.
I meant intriguing as in when I read the (original) article, the title only says “Dem” and I assumed one. However, it turned out to be a total of three (delegate, congresswoman, senator). I am not trying to make it political I just thought it interesting. Absolutely agree a horrible situation, and also with the contract of carriage – while they may have the right, I think we can all agree it should have been handled better on United’s side.