2017 United Express passenger removal

File:Sean Spicer answers questions about United Airlines viral video.webm 2017 United Express Flight 3411 Incident

The 2017 United Express Flight 3411 incident occurred on April 9, 2017, when David Dao, a passenger on a flight operated by Republic Airways on behalf of United Express, was forcibly removed from the aircraft at Chicago O'Hare International Airport. The incident sparked widespread international outrage after a video showing Dao being dragged off the plane by airport security officers went viral on social media.

Background

United Express Flight 3411 was scheduled to fly from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Louisville International Airport on the evening of April 9, 2017. The flight was operated by Republic Airways, one of the regional carriers under the United Express brand, which is itself part of the larger United Airlines network. The incident arose from a common airline practice known as overbooking, where airlines sell more tickets than available seats based on statistical models predicting no-show passengers.

Incident

On the day of the incident, Flight 3411 was fully boarded when passengers were informed that four seats were needed to accommodate crew members needed in Louisville for a subsequent flight. When no passengers volunteered to give up their seats in exchange for compensation, the airline selected four passengers to be involuntarily bumped from the flight. David Dao, a 69-year-old physician, was one of the passengers selected. When Dao refused to leave, citing his need to see patients the following day, airport security officers were called to remove him from the aircraft.

Video footage taken by other passengers showed Dao being forcibly pulled from his seat and dragged down the aisle by the officers, resulting in Dao sustaining injuries. The incident and the manner of Dao's removal led to public outrage and brought attention to the practice of overbooking and the rights of airline passengers.

Aftermath

The incident led to significant public backlash against United Airlines and the broader airline industry's treatment of passengers. United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz initially defended the airline's actions but later issued several apologies and announced changes to the airline's policies regarding overbooking and handling of passengers. The airline reached an undisclosed settlement with Dao in late April 2017.

In response to the incident, several airlines announced changes to their overbooking and passenger compensation policies. The United States Congress held hearings to examine airline practices, and legislative proposals were introduced aimed at protecting airline passengers' rights.

Impact

The 2017 United Express Flight 3411 incident had a lasting impact on the airline industry, leading to policy changes aimed at improving customer service and passenger rights. It also sparked a global conversation about the treatment of passengers by airlines and the need for regulatory reforms to ensure passenger dignity and respect.