The aviation security officers who dragged off a passenger of a United Airlines flight have released their official statement regarding the incident explaining their side.
Chicago aviation security officers claim the United Airlines passenger forcibly removed from a flight at O’Hare International Airport earlier this month “responded repeatedly in an aggressive manner” when he was asked to give up his seat, and he swung “his arms up and down fast and violently,” according to the official incident report and other records released by the city. The documents also claim that officers used “minimal but necessary force” in the situation, and Dr. David Dao, the passenger being removed, hurt his mouth when his face hit an armrest after his flailing arms struck an officer holding him.
A 69-year-old Dr. Dao was one of the four people randomly chosen to be removed from the flight because of overbooking. He was forcibly dragged down the plane’s aisle by the Chicago Aviation Police after he refused to give up his seat. He told the officers that he needed get home because he had patients to see the next day.
A high-profile Chicago attorney Thomas Demetrio said, Dao was bloodied in the incident and suffered a “significant concussion” and a broken nose, as well as losing two teeth. A lawsuit against the airline is forthcoming, according to Dao’s attorney.
According to the incident report, two aviation officers — Officers Mauricio Rodriguez Jr., who wrote the report, and James Long — were called in to help remove Dao, who “was yelling about leaving the aircraft.” Once aboard the plane, Rodriguez claims he “tried to persuade Mr. Dao to leave in a calm manner,” his report stated.
“I’m not leaving this flight I paid money for. I don’t care if I get arrested,” Dao said, according to the incident report.
The officers continued to convince Dao to leave for several more minutes until another aviation officer, Stephen Smith, arrived, the report stated. Smith also tried to talk Dao into leaving the plane, but he, too, was unsuccessful, according to the report. Eventually, Long took steps to physically remove Dao from the plane. The following is Long’s description of events from his personnel report about the incident:
“The subject continued to refused [sic] to leave and said, I’m not leaving and folded his arms tightly. Ofc Long asked the other officers to assist in removing the subject. When Ofc Long tried to reach out to hold the subject, the subject started swinging his arms up and down with a closed fist. Ofc Long was able to grab the subject and pull him away from the window [sic] seat toward the aisle. But suddenly the subject started flailing and fighting. Consequently, the subject was able to knocked [sic] the right hand of Ofc Long off his arm and shoulder area, which caused the subject to fall, hit, and injured [sic] his mouth on the armrest on the other side of the aisle. At this time, Ofc Long was able to regain control of the subject and was able to remove the subject from the aircraft with the help of [Rodriguez].”
After he was taken off the plane, Dao laid down on the deck of the jetbridge and told officers he was diabetic, according to the incident report. Another aviation officer — Sgt. John Moore — arrived to help, and an EMS crew and ambulance were called in, the report added.
That’s when Dao ran back on to the plane, grabbed onto a pole in the galley and, according to the report, told officers, “I’m not getting off this plane. Just kill me. I want to go home.”
Finally, Dao was convinced by EMS workers to exit the plain to receive treatment for his injuries.
“At which point, he willingly sat on the stretcher and was placed into [the ambulance] to be transported to Lutheran General Hospital,” Rodriguez’s report stated.
Chicago Department of Aviation placed Rodriguez, Smith, and Long on administrative leave after the incident. Moore also was placed on leave while the department reviews what happened, the Tribune reports.
Service Employees International Union Local 73, which represents Chicago Aviation Police officers, said it, along with the city’s aviation department, “will reserve further comment about this particular incident until the investigation by both parties is completed.”
They also added, “Local 73 and the Aviation Officers look forward to working the Chicago Department of Aviation to make sure there is comprehensive training, policies, and procedures established that address the ever-changing challenges at our airports”.
United CEO Oscar Munoz said the airline will no longer use law enforcement to remove paid passengers from flight unless they present a safety or security risk.
Aviation Commissioner Ginger Evans wrote in an email that the aviation police should never have been used in the first place, according to the Tribune:
“I’m unhappy that we were asked to remove a passenger due to an overbooking. Removing an unruly passenger is a legitimate law enforcement action.”
Sources:
