Chicago

Officer Placed on Leave After Video Showed Man Being Dragged Off Overbooked United Airlines Flight

United said airline representatives chose four passengers at random when no volunteers agreed to leave the overbooked flight. They requested law enforcement assistance when one of them refused to leave

An officer has been placed on leave after video showed security officials dragging a passenger from a United Airlines flight at O'Hare International Airport, the Chicago Department of Aviation announced Monday. 

"The incident on United flight 3411 was not in accordance with our standard operating procedure and the actions of the aviation security officer are obviously not condoned by the Department," a spokesperson for the CDA said in a statement. "That officer has been placed on leave effective today pending a thorough review of the situation."

A United representative confirmed to NBC Chicago Sunday night that a person was removed from Flight 3411 to Louisville, Kentucky, saying it was "overbooked." The airline's CEO has since said it is conducting a review of the situation.

Passenger Audra D. Bridges posted the video on Facebook. It shows the guards grabbing then dragging the passenger down the aisle. Screaming is heard and other passengers say "Oh my God" and "Look at what you did to him."

United said airline representatives chose four passengers at random when no volunteers agreed to leave the overbooked flight. They requested law enforcement assistance when one of them refused to leave.

"One customer refused to leave the aircraft voluntarily and law enforcement was asked to come to the gate," the statement said.

Bridges says United asked for four passengers to relinquish their seats for airline employees on stand-by.

Bridges' husband, Tyler Bridges, said the passenger seen being hauled from his seat was a doctor who had to be in Louisville in the morning to see patients. He managed to return to the plane after being removed.

"He runs back on — dazed, bloodied, kind of in a mess — yelling 'I have to get home, I have to get home,'" Tyler Bridges told NBC News.

United CEO Oscar Munoz released this statement Monday: "This is an upsetting event to all of us here at United. I apologize for having to re-accommodate these customers. Our team is moving with a sense of urgency to work with the authorities and conduct our own detailed review of what happened. We are also reaching out to this passenger to talk directly to him and further address and resolve this situation."

Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky called on United Airlines to "immediately change their policy and give full restitution and compensation to the victim." 

"This use of excessive force is absolutely unacceptable," Schakowsky said in a statement Monday afternoon. "The response from United Airlines has been brazenly inadequate – their apology over having to ‘re-accommodate’ passengers is completely insulting, and their attempt to pass the buck by blaming the Chicago Police Department for the incident demonstrates that they do not understand the gravity of this incident.

"This is far from the end of the story," she added. 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
Contact Us