United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz has defended his staff’s decision to forcibly remove an elderly passenger in a bizarre email sent to his staff.
The airline has faced furious backlash from the incident yesterday after footage emerged of a 69-year-old man bleeding heavily was dragged from an overbooked flight to Louisville.
Munoz incredibly apologised for ‘having to re-accommodate these customers’ but not for leaving an elderly man bloodied on his flight.
@united @FoxNews @CNN not a good way to treat a Doctor trying to get to work because they overbooked pic.twitter.com/sj9oHk94Ik
— Tyler Bridges (@Tyler_Bridges) April 9, 2017
GettyThe private email to employees reads:
TwitterDear Team,
Like you, I was upset to see and hear about what happened last night aboard United Express Flight 3411 headed from Chicago to Louisville. While the facts and circumstances are still evolving especially with respect to why this customer defied Chicago Aviation Security Officers the way he did, to give you a clearer picture of what transpired, I’ve included below a recap from preliminary reports.
As you will read, this situation was unfortunately compounded when one of the passengers we politely asked to deplane refused and it became necessary to contact Chicago Aviation Security Officers to help. Our employees followed established procedures for dealing with situations like this. While I deeply regret this situation arose, I also emphatically stand behind all of you and I want to commend you for continuing to go aboce and beyond to ensure we fly right.
I do, however, believe there are lessons we can learn from this experience and we are taking a close look at the circumstances surrounding this incident. Treating our customers and each other with respect and dignity is at the cor of who we are, and we must always remember this no matter how challenging the situation.
He then went on to bullet point summarise the ‘facts’ of what happened on the flight.
@united @CNN @FoxNews @WHAS11 Man forcibly removed from plane somehow gets back on still bloody from being removed pic.twitter.com/njS3nC0pDl
— Tyler Bridges (@Tyler_Bridges) April 10, 2017
Naturally, social media erupted with many calling the CEO ‘tone deaf’ and ‘condescending’.
One airport policeman who allegedly body-slammed the passenger has been put on leave as bosses condemned his actions.
Taking the idea of ‘being woke’ to a whole new level over a decade-long career in sport, court and online news, George has worked for titles and agencies including ESPN FC, Eurosport, LADbible and Court News UK. He may not have a degree but does have an unhealthy obsession with Lord of the Rings.