Flight Was Overbooked, Law Enforcement Called
The CEO of United airlines is getting his share of ribbing after issues a statement in which he apologizes for “having to re-accommodate” passengers, one of whom was forcibly removed by law enforcement agents.
On Sunday, a Chicago to Louisville flight was overbooked and United offered passengers up to $800 to voluntarily take a flight the following day. When it became clear no one was interested, and having four extra passengers, the airline says they used a computer to select four to be removed. One, a man who says he is a doctor, refused, and the airline called law enforcement agents who dragged him off the plane.
The Courier-Journal notes in an updated report, “once the flight was filled those on the plane were told that four people needed to give up their seats to stand-by United employees that needed to be in Louisville on Monday for a flight.”
Calling the event “upsetting,” United CEO Oscar Munoz posted a statement that says, “I apologize for having to re-accommodate these customers.” He did not mention the passenger who was forcibly removed appeared to suffer a bloodied nose and required medical attention.
Ironically, as several have pointed out, last month PRWeek honored Munoz as “U.S. Communicator of the Year.”
On Twitter, many are outraged, and many are openly mocking Munoz’s statement:
This article has been updated with new information from The Courier-JournalÂ
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