Passenger dragged off overbooked united flight
You're referring to the infamous United Airlines incident that sparked widespread outrage and controversy in 2017.
On April 9, 2017, a United Airlines flight from Chicago to Louisville was overbooked, and the airline needed to remove four passengers to accommodate its own employees who needed to travel. After several passengers volunteered to leave, United Airlines staff selected four passengers, including a 69-year-old doctor, David Dao, to be removed from the flight.
Dao, who was already seated on the plane, refused to leave, citing his need to get to his medical practice the next day. He was forcibly removed from the flight by three security officers, who dragged him down the aisle, causing him to hit his head on an armrest and suffer a concussion.
The incident was captured on video by other passengers and quickly went viral on social media, sparking widespread outrage and criticism of United Airlines' handling of the situation. The airline's CEO, Oscar Munoz, initially apologized for the incident, but later backtracked, saying that Dao had "re-resisted" the removal and that the airline was "not going to make excuses."
The incident led to a public relations crisis for United Airlines, with many calling for boycotts and demanding greater accountability from the airline. The incident also raised questions about the treatment of passengers and the use of force by airline staff.
In the aftermath of the incident, United Airlines faced numerous lawsuits and fines, including a $45,000 fine from the Department of Transportation for violating consumer protection regulations. The airline also implemented new policies and procedures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The incident also led to changes in the way airlines handle overbooking and passenger removals, with many airlines adopting new policies to prioritize passenger safety and well-being.