So I'm sure you saw or heard about the guy who was dragged off the United flight because he was bump off. I've seen two videos with the man being taken off the United flight. And here is my take on it.
1. When you buy a plane ticket you are not guaranteed a seat. The airline can bump you off the plane. An airline or any business can refuse service to anyone as long as it isn't a case of discrimination of a protected class. This man and three other people were chosen at random.
2. The man along with three others were offered somewhere between $800-$1000, a hotel room, and a flight the next day. Some people have said they should have offered more until they got people to agree, but when is enough, enough? At some point the airline has to go Harrison Ford and just say, "Get off my plane."
3. Yes, the people had to give up their seats for employees. But those employees weren't headed on vacation. They had to work another flight. If they don't make it to their flight, then it could delay or cancel another flight. That could cause issues for many more people than just these 4 people. And some have said the crew could have rented a car and drove. So could this one man. And would you want your flight crew to have to drive 5 hours, before they flew your plane. And what happens if they get into an accident or the car breaks down? A lot more could go wrong.
4. There is video of the man being asked to get off the plane. He refuses and is on the phone talking to someone about getting a lawyer. He was told they would have to use force. He said you'll have to drag me off. He said he would rather go to jail. The man knew he was going to be forced off, but refused to comply. He wanted to be dragged off. He wanted a lawsuit.
5. When a cop tells you to do something you do it. You don't resist. You comply with an officer's instructions. If you refuse and an officer has to use force you get what you get. I always follow the instruction of law enforcement and I stand with law enforcement. What is the difference with this or a cop pulling someone out of a car after they refuse to get out?
6. Folks, do we really want it to be ok for people to refuse to get off a plane? Have we forgotten 911, the shoe bomber, or the underwear bomber? Forget why they asked him off the plane. If I was on that plane and someone refused to leave I'd be worried that they might be planning something bad. I'd be thinking why is this person willing to go to jail? Does he want to do something? When a cop tells you to get off the plane, you get off the damn plane.
7. This guy isn't even a doctor. He lost his medical license, because he was selling drugs for sex. He is a jerk that is looking for a payday.
I'm sure there will be a lawsuit and knowing how juries work they will either settle or pay out a huge amount. But they shouldn't. The man refused to leave, he was warned, and that is what happens when you refuse the authorities.
