By: Symone Daniels
United Airlines has reached a settlement with passenger, Dr. David Dao, compensating him for injuries he sustained after violently being dragged off of their airplane. On Thurs. morning, United Airlines released the following statement regarding resolution with Dr. David Dao:
“We are pleased to report that United and Dr. Dao have reached an amicable resolution of the unfortunate incident that occurred aboard flight 3411. We look forward to implementing the improvements we have announced, which will put our customers at the center of everything we do.”
According to CNN, The incident on April 9 began when gate agents asked for volunteers to give up their seats on Louisville, Kentucky-bound Flight 3411 to make room for a United crew that needed to meet another flight. Dao, 69, and his wife, initially agreed to take a later flight, a fellow passenger told CNN, but then changed their minds when they learned the next flight wouldn’t depart until the following day.
“He was very emphatic: ‘I can’t be late. I’m a doctor. I’ve got to be there tomorrow,'” Jayse Anspach recalled. The airline offered compensation to anyone willing to give up their seats, but when not enough people volunteered to go, Dao was apparently chosen at random. In a video shot by Joya and Forest Cummings, passengers who were sitting behind him, Dao repeatedly refused to disembark, explaining to officers that he is a physician and must work in the morning.
(Video Courtesy of Business Insider)
In the 34-second video clip, you can hear Dr. Dao screaming as he is being pried out of his seat and violently dragged down the aisle by three officers as other passengers on the airplane watch in fear and disbelief. The video went viral, and sparked outraged on social media, demanding justice for the doctor. While the amount of money Dao received in the settlement is undisclosed, there is never enough money to ease the pain of this type of cruel and unfair treatment. The same day as the settlement was reached, United Airlines announced new improvements to make sure an incident like Dr. Dao’s doesn’t happen again.
