United Passenger Told Police to ‘Drag Me Down’ — and Was Already on the Phone Planning His Lawsuit

This Doctor is a friggin idiot.

Virginia Kruta:

United Airlines has been put through the wringer ever since a pre-takeoff video of an April 9 flight went viral, showing a passenger being forcibly removed from the plane.

Dr. David Dao, who was traveling from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport to Louisville, KY, was selected to be removed from the flight when it became apparent that there were not enough seats on the plane.

That selection process, several airline employees told Independent Journal Review, is usually an algorithm that removes high priority passengers such as unaccompanied minors, people with disabilities, or people with certain known medical conditions, and then selects seats randomly from those that remain.

Initial reports indicated that the flight was overbooked, but United later clarified that the seating shortage was the result of a deadheading crew (airline employees who were being shuttled to Louisville in order to make the flight they were scheduled to work) that needed placement at the last minute.

That crew took priority — legally — over passengers due to federal laws and union regulations that govern rest periods for pilots and their flight crews.

Once Dao was selected — after the airline attempted to offer incentive for the necessary number of passengers to leave on a voluntary basis — the flight crew informed him that he needed to leave the plane.

When he repeatedly refused (an act that is governed by the FAA and punishable by up to $25,000 in fines for each offense), the airline called for security.

Chicago Aviation Police officers then boarded the plane, once again informing Dao that he needed to vacate his seat — but by then, he was on the phone.

A video taken by the passenger seated behind Dao captured the following conversation:

Dao: I won’t go. I’m a physician. I have to work tomorrow, eight o’clock.

Police: They want to remove you …

Dao: I tell you … make a lawsuit against United Airlines …

Police: It’s just something we have to …

Dao: No, I’m not going.

Police: Sir …

Dao: I’m not going.

Police: Well … have to drag you …

Dao: Well, you can drag me. I don’t go, I’m not going. I’m staying right there.

Police: So this can be a lot harder …

Dao: Yeah. I’d rather go to jail.

The police continued to attempt to resolve the situation without using force, but it became apparent that Dao, who explained that he had been traveling from LA and the delay was too much, was not going to leave his seat willingly.

Read more