United Airlines had nothing to do with beating the poor doctor

[MADem]

49. They were called to remove a stubborn passenger. They did that.

Your assumption that the police "acted outside their legal authority" is subject to debate. They'll say he resisted, and I've not seen any video that shows clearly what happened to this guy before he was dragged down the aisle.

When people resist, they often get hurt.

Now, let me make a few things clear, because this is DU and people sometimes like to fight about bullshit. I think UNITED did the wrong thing, I think they shouldn't have removed the passenger, they should have tried harder to induce someone else to leave the plane if they really needed the seat, and I think they might want to think about adding a few more jumpseats on those a/c if this is going to become a habit.

That said, I also think the police were the tools of the UNITED personnel who called them and asked them to perform a task--removing the pax. I don't think the police will be punished, and the only punishment UNITED will take is in their goodwill and stock prices for the short term.

That passenger can try to retrieve damages via arbitration, and he probably will get a nice little payday for his trouble, but I don't think he'll ever sue anyone or even go to court. This will be hammered out in an arbitration..

FAA regs give broad authority to airline personnel to do this kind of thing--you might not like it, but that's what it is.

When you're on a plane, even if you've "rented" "your" seat, you're subject to the orders of the captain/aircrew, and if you fuck around, disobey, or give them lip, they will take you off. At that point, you become an "unruly passenger" and you're treated as such. You don't have rights and they do have authority. You can be fined, imprisoned, etc., if you don't get the spirit. I wouldn't be surprised if, during arbitration, UNITED will drag out this aspect to try to lower their exposure and reduce their total payout.


Ask Arianna Huffington--she didn't have to be dragged, but she was "escorted off" when she refused to sit her ass down and get off the phone on a NYC-DC flight shortly after Nahn Wun Wun. Passengers have almost no recourse when they fail to obey aircrew orders--it's just what it is. They have rights when it comes to flight delays, and sitting on the taxiway for too long, but not when it comes to obeying orders of aircrew. Planes are not "public spaces" like a sidewalk or a public park--the FAA can and does constrain behavior. They constrained this guy's behavior. A crew needed to get somewhere; he was "less important." It was a stupid call in terms of PR, but they've got legal cover.