There’s really only one thing anyone’s talking about online this morning, and it’s the United Airlines passenger who was forcibly removed from his flight, leaving him reportedly bloodied and bruised.
Videos emerged of the passenger being dragged screaming by police off the flight, after a computer randomly-selected him and three other passengers to depart the over-booked plane and he refused. (He was a doctor, who reportedly refused because he had patients to see in the Louiseville area early Monday.)
@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
United CEO Oscar Munoz has apologised “for having to re-accommodate these customers” (righto mate) and said the airline is conducting a detailed review to work out what the hell happened.
United CEO response to United Express Flight 3411. pic.twitter.com/rF5gNIvVd0
— United (@united) April 10, 2017
But in the meantime, celebrities are using the full weight of their star-power to tell United just what the fuck is up.
Having flown #united last week, I feel very blessed to not be tweeting this message from a hospital bed.
— Josh Gad (@joshgad) April 10, 2017
Getting on a United flight this morning. Excited to, I don’t know… stay on?
— Joss Whedon (@joss) April 10, 2017
“For the comfort and safety of the other passengers, please remember we will be resorting to cannibalism BY GROUP NUMBER” #united
— Joss Whedon (@joss) April 10, 2017
cannot wait to use “i will re-accommodate your ass” in my next fight
— christine teigen (@chrissyteigen) April 10, 2017
Dear #united, I had to “re-accommodate” someone once pic.twitter.com/MP3ZJDv85m
— Joe Thomas (@joethomas73) April 10, 2017
So @united sucks. But the Chicago police who dragged the man off the flight are also monsters. Police using unnecessary force, again.
— Kumail Nanjiani (@kumailn) April 10, 2017
This could be me or you next time. Shame on @United who broke customer trust + instigated this. Shame on the airport cops. Cowardly assault. https://t.co/MY729HippE
— Ava DuVernay (@ava) April 10, 2017
Jet Blue’s new slogan – extra leg room and we won’t physically drag you down the aisle screaming in pain.
— billy eichner (@billyeichner) April 10, 2017
Flying United? You have to drag me onto the plane.
— Dan Savage (@fakedansavage) April 10, 2017
It all comes just two weeks after United was at the centre of an online furore after it refused to let three young girls in leggings board the flight, which escalated partially thanks to United’s boneheaded standard response (it simply told angry tweeters that it reserved the right “to refuse transport for passengers who are … not properly clothed,” which was ever really the issue).
In this case, Munoz’ official response is being any better received, either.
@united “Re-accommodate!” You assaulted a paying customer, knocked him out and dragged him off a plane.
— Jon Spaihts (@jonspaihts) April 10, 2017
@united Pro-tip for penitent corporations: Orwellian doublespeak doesn’t really signal that you “get it.”
— Jon Spaihts (@jonspaihts) April 10, 2017
@united A gentle suggestion: pic.twitter.com/VhvFIc4QO3
— Jon Spaihts (@jonspaihts) April 10, 2017
Photo: Audra D. Bridges / Facebook.
