Man dragged off United flight reaches settlement with airline

World Today

David Dao, the Kentucky doctor dragged off the United flight in Chicago, has reached a settlement with the airline for an undisclosed amount.

The April 9, 2017 incident was videotaped by other passengers and widely shared online, turning into an international embarrassment for both the airlines and the city of Chicago’s aviation department.

A report was released by the Chicago Department of Aviation of the officer’s report of the incident, in response to a Freedom of Information Act request by The Associated Press.
The report also includes the name of the officer, James Long, who authorities initially declined to identify.

In the report, Long said he boarded the United Express flight after being called in response to a disturbance involving two people regarding a refusal to leave the aircraft. United has said four passengers had been ordered off the airplane to make room for four employees to fly to Louisville, Kentucky.

Long said he approached Dr. David Dao to ask the 69-year-old physician to get off the plane. Long said Dao refused and “folded his arms tightly.” Long said he reached out to “hold” Dao and was able to pull him away from his window seat on the aircraft and move toward the aisle.

“But suddenly the subject started flailing and fighting,” Long wrote.

In response to the incident and its consequent handling, United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz said “I breached public trust with this event and how we responded,” adding “people are upset, and I suspect that there are a lot of people potentially thinking of not flying us.”