It’s not uncommon for airlines to overbook flights, but often times, when they do so, they offer incentives in the form of flight vouchers to persuade volunteers. However, what happens when no one wants to give up their seat?
United Airlines is back in the hot seat after a passenger caught the airline forcibly removing another passenger who did not volunteer to leave his seat on his own.
Jayse D. Anspach, a witness, took to Twitter to voice his complaint. According to Anspach, the incident occurred on United Flight 3411, which was going from Chicago to Louisville.
“United overbooked and wanted 4 of us to volunteer to give up our seats for personnel that needed to be at work the next day,” tweeted Anspach. “No one volunteered, so United decided to choose for us. They chose an Asian doctor and his wife.”
According to the witness, the doctor refused to volunteer because he had to work at the hospital the next day. When he declined to leave, United called security to force him off.
“A couple airport security men forcefully pulled the doctor out of his chair and to the floor of the aisle. In so doing, the doctor’s face was slammed against an armrest, causing serious bleeding from his mouth. It looked like he was knocked out, because he went limp and quiet and they dragged him out of the plane like a rag doll. 10mins later, the doctor runs back into the plane with a bloody face, clings to a post in the back, chanting, “I need to go home.””
United Airlines’ social media team gave a brief explanation on Twitter. “Flight 3411 from Chicago to Louisville was overbooked. After our team looked for volunteers, one customer refused to leave the aircraft voluntarily and law enforcement was asked to come to the gate.”
Here’s the thing: If he refused to leave, how was it “voluntarily”? He clearly didn’t volunteer. They should have raised the price on the voucher and may someone would have volunteered.
Watch the video below:
@United overbook #flight3411 and decided to force random passengers off the plane. Here’s how they did it: pic.twitter.com/QfefM8X2cW
— Jayse D. Anspach (@JayseDavid) April 10, 2017
