United Airlines apologizes for passenger dragging incident: HumSub.TV
United Airlines apologizes for passenger dragging incident: HumSub.TV: The chief executive of embattled United Airlines unequivocally apologized Tuesday for an incident in which a passenger was dragged off a plane, promising a thorough review of the airline’s practices.
The apology came amid a torrent of criticism of the carrier’s actions on a Sunday flight and its initial explanations.
In images now seen worldwide, a passenger was forcefully removed and bloodied in the process — the entire event captured on video by passengers and posted on social media.
Passenger David Dao, 69, had refused to be “bumped” from the overbooked flight — an airline practice that has now come under increased scrutiny.
“I continue to be disturbed by what happened on this flight and I deeply apologize to the customer forcibly removed and to all the customers aboard,” CEO Oscar Munoz said.
“We take full responsibility and we will work to make it right.”
The comments were in stark contrast to the company’s initial response, in which it seemed to at least partially blame the passenger, inflaming worldwide outrage.
US media published an email Munoz sent earlier to employees, in which he said the passenger “defied” authorities and “compounded” the incident.
“Our employees followed established procedures for dealing with situations like this,” the CEO wrote.
Munoz said Tuesday the company will conduct a “thorough review” of its procedures, including “how we handle oversold situations” and how the airline partners with airport authorities and law enforcement.
But the public relations damage was done, with calls for boycotts and the US Department of Transportation promising to review the airline’s actions.
“When you watch the video, it is troubling to see how that was handled,” White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said.
Asian and Arab American groups rallied at Chicago’s O’Hare airport Tuesday night, insisting airlines and security personnel improve treatment of minority groups.
“We are here to demand accountability and transparency from United and the Chicago aviation police,” said Tuyet Le of the group Asian Americans Advancing Justice.
US Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, also speaking at the news conference, said she was considering legislation to stop the involuntary removal of travelers from airplanes.
“Once a plane is boarded, no one should be asked to leave,” she said.
The furor battered United’s stock Tuesday, which closed down 1.1 percent.
The public relations firestorm followed a late March incident in which two teenagers were prevented from boarding a United flight in Denver because they were wearing leggings.
The airline defended its action at the time by saying the girls were flying on passes that required them to abide by a dress code in return for free or discounted travel.
‘You don’t really have any rights’
An attorney for Dao’s family said he is in a Chicago hospital getting treated for his injuries.
“The family of Dr. Dao wants the world to know that they are very appreciative of the outpouring of prayers, concern and support they have received,” said Chicago attorney Stephen Golan.
The incident spotlighted the practice of overbooking and bumping passengers, which airlines increasingly rely upon to avoid losing money on seats left empty by no-show passengers.
If they were to stop overbooking, “the only way of trying to compensate for that over the long term would be to raise fares on everyone else,” said industry analyst Robert Mann.
Instead, airlines sell more tickets than there are seats on a plane, and are generally able to properly forecast demand to avoid major disruptions, Mann said.
But they sometimes miscalculate and inadvertently book more passengers than a flight can handle.
In those instances, airlines offer travel vouchers and cash compensation to entice passengers to voluntarily give up their seats for later flights.
When such enticements don’t work, airlines have wide latitude under the law.
“If you’re still in the terminal waiting to board, you can be told you can’t board, even if you have a reservation,” Mann said. “Once you’re on board, you are subject to being deplaned based on the order of the crew.”
“So you don’t really have any rights.”
“Consumer trust and confidence are critical to ensure this industry continues to thrive,” the 21 US senators said in a statement. “We hope United Airlines will work diligently to immediately address this incident and make necessary improvements to ensure it does not occur again,”
Last year, 434,000 passengers volunteered to be bumped from flights, while another 40,000 were bumped involuntarily and compensated.
United Airlines apologizes for passenger dragging incident: HumSub.TV. United Airlines apologizes for passenger dragging incident: HumSub.TV
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HumSub TV is Pakistan’s leading forwarding-thinking, edutainment channel, aimed at promoting and upholding peace, interfaith harmony and social responsibility within Pakistan through informative and insightful programmes and documentaries; analytical interviews on issues pertaining to social, economic, legal and environmental set-up; dedicated shows to canvass and thereby promote the culture and heritage of Pakistan and in-depth coverage of national and international news.
HumSub TV is the first channel and thus a pioneer within its own right that mainly focuses on emphasising the “Rights” as well as the “Obligations” of the citizens in light of the Constitution of Pakistan, numerous International declarations signed by the Government and various laws that have been promulgated over the years but are not in the knowledge of the common citizen.
HumSub TV also aims to enter into bilateral agreements with other countries to promote not only their culture, heritage and tourism, but also their educational and medical facilities.
Following the successful launch of HumSub TV’s head office in Blue Area, Islamabad; the bureau office has been set up in Lahore.
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HumSub TV is resolute about the promotion of a pluralistic, inclusive and egalitarian society in Pakistan where all citizens are allowed to contribute to promote interfaith harmony, peace and collective wisdom in the social, political and economic development of Pakistan and to encourage critical and lateral thinking in the society. HumSub TV strives to make a positive contribution to this end.
HumSub TV’s Theme
HumSub TV, Pakistan’s first EDUTAINMENT Channel, has been set up for not only those audience residing in Pakistan or overseas but the international community on the whole. The vision of the channel is to project positive image building of Pakistan and inculcate nationalism as per the vision of the founder of the nation.
HumSub TV strives to make a positive contribution to this end by promoting pluralism, inclusiveness and egality in Pakistan and give voice to the suppressed. It endeavors to act as a positive catalyst for social change and Pakistani nationalism. It envisions providing a platform for airing critical and lateral thinking and collective wisdom by inviting positive minded intellectuals and opinion forming individuals for the promotion of interfaith harmony and peace in the social, political and economic development of Pakistan.
Whereas the channel airs upbeat edutainment programmes, it, nonetheless, has the primary objective of countering negative anti-Pakistan regional and international propaganda as well as advancing fundamental rights as encapsulated in the Constitution of Pakistan.
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