Crisel Jenica S.

Alviento
BSTM 1-3N

“Passenger dragged off overbooked United flight”

On April 9 2017, there was an incident happened in Chicago’s O’Hare

International Airport in United States. It is about a passenger who was dragged off from
the security officers. The incident sparked criticism of a system that allows airlines to
involuntarily boot passengers from flights. United was acting within their rights and
following policy. Then, the situation turned physical. United asked passengers to give up
their seats voluntarily for compensation. Four crew members needed to get on the flight
in order to work another one in Louisville or else that flight would be canceled. When no
one volunteered, the airline was forced into an "involuntary de-boarding situation”.
United employees explained the situation to the man several times, Hobart said. When
he refused they followed Department of Transportation protocol and called local law
enforcement to forcibly remove him from the plane.
Several passengers recorded the incident on their phones and posted video on
social media showing three Chicago Department of Aviation security officers dragging
the man, who has not been identified, down the aisle by the arms and legs while other
passengers shout in protest. He continued to resist after he was removed and ran back
onto the airplane, face bloodied from the encounter. "It was very traumatic," passenger
Jade Kelley said. She did not witness the entire event but she said the sound of the
screams still haunt her.
2 Points of Agreement

1. Kicking off the passenger due to the overbooked flight is often. George
Hobica said that it is standard practice for airlines to sell more tickets than there
are seats. Carriers calculate how much wiggle room they have based on past
stats that track no-shows and offer passengers vouchers if flights end up too full,
and no two airlines have the same approach. There are also scenarios in which
the plane may be too heavy, an air marshal needs to board or flight staff have to
get to work.

2. Experts agree that what United is dealing with is not par for the course. For
one, the back-and-forth usually happens at the gate. Not once passengers
aboard the plane. Airlines set their own policies when it comes to the order in
which passengers are bumped. The terms are sketched out in "contracts of
carriage" that passengers agree to when they buy their tickets.

2 Points of Disagreement

1. When a flight is overbooked, federal rules require that airlines first check to see if
anyone will give up his or her seat voluntarily, according to the Department of
Transportation. Airlines dictate what the compensation looks like, but it's
usually a travel voucher toward a future flight or a gift card. I disagree with
the compensation. I think is it still not enough for the passengers who were
picked up by the officers to kick off from the flight. Because at first it is not their
fault of having an overbooked flight. The Airlines should have a budget for this
type of incidence because this situation might lose its own image.

2. If airlines can't get passengers to switch of their own volition, they're

allowed to bump fliers involuntarily. This is the kind of brutish treatment of the
public that we expect in dictatorships. Not in a liberal democracy. Even if the
flight was overbooked (which is poor practice) the airline officials should respect
democracy. If no one wants to give up their seat, the airline needs to increase the
incentive so people will give up their seats peacefully. Under NO circumstances
should they violently drag people off the plane.
Conclusion and Recommendation

Therefore, I conclude that there are agreements and disagreements regarding to

the incident of Dr. David Dao. First, it happens often. It is their usual practice which to
sell more tickets than to consider the number of seats until when there is overbooking
happened and none of the passengers volunteered to go, it is their responsibility to
bump someone and give a compensation. But one thing I disagree is the compensation.
I think it is hard for Dr. Dao to leave because of the compensation that is not enough for
him that will be given from the airlines. I recommend that the airlines should increase
the incentive so there will be more chances to push some passenger to kick out.
Agencies in the Philippines that is Involved in the Operation and Management of
the Aviation of the Country:

1. Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines. The CAAP is responsible for

implementing policies on civil aviation in order to ensure safe, economical, and
efficient air travel. As an independent regulatory body with quasi-judicial and
quasi-legislative powers, the CAAP is mandated to set comprehensive, clear and
impartial rules and regulations for the Philippine aviation industry.

2. Office for Transportation Security. It is the single authority responsible for the
security of the transportation systems of the Philippines, including Civil Aviation,
Sea Transport and Maritime Infrastructure, Land Transportation, Rail System and
Infrastructure.

3. Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB). It is the agency of the government mandated to

regulate the economic aspect of air transportation, and shall have the general
supervision, control and jurisdiction over air carriers, general sales agents, cargo
sales agents, and air freight forwarders as well as their property, property rights,
equipment, facilities, and franchise (R.A. No. 776, as amended by P.D. 1462).
4. Philippine National Police Aviation Security Group (PNP-AVSEGROUP). It is
responsible in enforcing laws and regulations related to air travel in the Philippines. In
the past, their duties were performed by the Philippines' Aviation Security Command
(AVSECOM), formed in 1976. The security group was later renamed in 1986
to Philippine Air Force Security Command (PAFSECOM).
References:

V., Daniel & S., Matt (10 Apr 17) United Airline Passenger Is Dragged From an Overbooked
Flight – Retrieved from
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/10/business/united-flight-passenger-
dragged.html#commentsContainer

Horowitz, J. (10 Apr 17) The Often-Overlooked reason can kick you off your flight – Retrieved
from
https://money.cnn.com/2017/04/10/news/united-overbooking-policy/index.html

http://www.cab.gov.ph/dotc-sectoral-and-attached-agencies/item/civil-aviation-authority-of-the-
philippines

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Office_for_Transportation_Security

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_National_Police_Aviation_Security_Group