United Passenger-Dragging: Feds Won't Fine Airline

The U.S. Department of Transportation will not fine United Airlines stemming from a passenger who was violently dragged from his seat during an April flight at O'Hare International Airport, the federal agency told Reuters on Wednesday. The decision comes after a nearly monthlong investigation of the incident, which was captured on video and created a public relations disaster for the Chicago-based carrier when it was spread online via social media. The investigation, however, did rule that United violated federal overbooking guidelines.

On April 9, Dr. David Dao, a 69-year-old physician from Kentucky, was one of four people randomly chosen to be bumped from a Chicago-to-Louisville flight 3411 so that airline employees could fly. Dao was forcibly dragged down the plane's aisle by the Chicago Aviation Police when he refused to give up his seat. He suffered a concussion and a broken nose from the incident.

Watch: United's Not Being Fined For Forcibly Removing A Passenger

The Transportation Department's ruling was in a two-page letter sent to United on May 12, which was disclosed Wednesday, Sept. 6, by Flyers Rights, a passengers advocacy group that acquired a copy of the communication through a Freedom of Information Act request filed after the agency refused to release the findings from its investigation. Flyers Rights President Paul Hudson criticized the department's decision and called for a public hearing in light of the fact that United broke federal regulations, according to Reuters. (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news for Chicago — or your neighborhood. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.)

According to the Transportation Department's letter, United didn't give the proper written overbooking notices to Dao and his wife when it asked them to give up their seats, the report stated. The carrier, however, did follow guidelines by properly compensating the other passengers it bumped, the report added.

For its part, United told Reuters that it is continuing to implement company-wide changes in the wake of April's incident, which it said "should never have happened." Some of the improvements the airline included reducing overbookings, increasing the maximum payout for voluteers who give up their seats to $10,000, ensuring crews traveling on flights are booked at least 60 minutes before departure and not using police to pull paid passengers who don't present a safety risk.

Patch's United Flight 3411 Coverage

United Passenger, Airline Reach Confidential Settlement In Dragging Incident: VIDEO: The deal comes the same day as the Chicago-based company released its report on the events aboard flight 3411.

Passenger Was 'Aggressive'; Aviation Cops Used 'Minimal But Necessary Force': Incident Report: Records concerning the events of flight 3411 claim Dr. David Dao was combative with officers before being removed from the plane.

Crew Members Will Be Booked 60 Minutes Before Departure Under New Policy: The policy comes after passenger Dr. David Dao was dragged off a flight and left bloodied when he did not give up his seat for a crew member.

Passenger Dragged From Flight Suffered Concussion, Broken Nose: VIDEO: A lawsuit likely after United forced a doctor off the plane to "re-accommodate" him so an airline employee could take his seat.

United Won't Use Police To Pull Paid Passengers From Flights, Airline CEO Says: VIDEO: United CEO Oscar Munoz called Sunday's incident on a flight out of Chicago a "system failure" during an ABC News interview.

United's Image Takes Online Beating In Memes, Comments: Social media reaction to video footage of a passenger being dragged from a full flight Sunday night has been swift and merciless.

Following the incident, Dao and United reached an amicable and confidential settlement over the injuries he suffered from the dragging.

More via Reuters

Screen shot via Audra D. Bridges | Facebook

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