General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: I refuse to "voluntarily" give up a seat I have paid for, and am, in fact, occupying, and some [View all]Lee-Lee
(6,324 posts)The cops there were in a no-win situation. Legally the airplane is private property and they can ask anyone to leave it, refusal to is trespassing after that point.
It is even more so under the terms you agree to when buying a ticket.
So while United was totally assholes about it and managed it all wrong, they had the legal right to ask anyone they wanted to leave the plane.
So the cops were called, and by then the back story doesn't matter. If the property owner wants someone removed they have to remove them. If the person refuses at that point they have to take steps to remove the person. If the person refuses to follow lawful orders that escalates the scene. They can't just say "well, he doesn't want to go" and leave if he refuses.
United totally screwed the pooch. He made things worse by refusing to leave his seat when it got the the point that law enforcement was called. He should have at that point documented it, left and filed a civil case for his damages later.