* From the ILGOP and others…
Illinois Republicans are disturbed by the video of airline personnel violently removing a passenger from an overbooked flight. Regardless of the circumstances or the person’s race, creed, or religion, no one should encounter violence in the face of a disagreement. We hope that both United Airlines and the City of Chicago investigate the situation and ensure that appropriate procedures are in place to prevent similar problems in the future. The conduct in this case is simply unacceptable.”
- Joint Statement from Tim Schneider (Chairman of the Illinois Republican Party), Yan (Grace) Cui (Chairman of the Chinese American GOP Coalition), Dr. Byoung Suh (Chairman of the Illinois Korean American Republican Organization)
* Related…
* United won’t let cops remove paid passengers like Dr. Dao again
* Black eye for United, Chicago after apologies over bloodying doc: “Anyone who saw that video had the same reaction: this was completely unacceptable at every level,” Emanuel said. “I appreciate that Ginger took swift action at the Department of Aviation, and her team is already hard at work on a thorough investigation – in partnership with the airline – to ensure nothing like this ever happens again.”
* United CEO vows ‘this will never happen again,’ felt ’shame’ watching dragging video
* United faces more questions as dragged passenger hires high-powered attorney
- Saluki - Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 12:53 pm:
Why is this news again?
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 1:01 pm:
Whoa, careful way out there on that limb, Rapid Response Squad.
- Blue dog dem - Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 1:13 pm:
Retraction. Yesterday i vowed to ‘never’ fly united again. I should have learned my lesson raising three kids. Never say ‘never’. If United changes policy, i will fly this airline. Many wonderful employees shouldnt be hurt by stupid corporate rules.
- Deft Wing - Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 1:22 pm:
This just in, the night-time Custodian of School Dist. 123 is terribly disturbed by the treatment of that airline passenger. Facebook Live event to follow soon so stay tuned.
- Sox Fan - Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 1:25 pm:
==Retraction. Yesterday i vowed to ‘never’ fly united again. I should have learned my lesson raising three kids. Never say ‘never’. If United changes policy, i will fly this airline. Many wonderful employees shouldnt be hurt by stupid corporate rules.==
Spirit and Frontier airlines proves on a daily basis that a good deal will trump poor customer service in most cases. This will blow over eventually.
- Clark - Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 1:26 pm:
This really shouldn’t warrant a response from this many political figures, but I guess that’s just the day and age we live in where everyone needs to respond to anything social media deems popular.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 1:27 pm:
===a good deal will trump poor customer service in most cases===
Having a paying customer beaten bloody and dragged off a plane is not “poor customer service.”
- Henry Francis - Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 1:30 pm:
Wait, this incident is racial now?
- Sox Fan - Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 1:33 pm:
===Having a paying customer beaten bloody and dragged off a plane is not “poor customer service.”===
Oh, I 100% agree. United has handled this poorly in every aspect from beginning to end and changes need to be made. I’m just saying, there are probably a lot of people like me who will book a flight with United if the price/convenience factor is right, regardless of what happened this weekend.
- Steve Rogers - Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 1:35 pm:
“Illinois Republicans are disturbed….” Does this imply Illinois democrats are happy about this?? /s
- In 630 - Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 1:37 pm:
The couple days of complete tone-deaf defensive stupidity out of United and Munoz says so much about the culture of the company. A change in policy isn’t enough- they need to work on re-tooling the standards and judgment of employees at all levels.
- Jocko - Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 1:40 pm:
Was Tim Schneider waiting for a fourth tweet from Oscar Munoz before weighing in?
United learned the hard way there’s a big difference between “losing” someone’s seat and “taking” someone’s seat.
- Dance Band on the Titanic - Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 1:43 pm:
I wasn’t aware this was a partisan issue.
- Roman - Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 1:45 pm:
My biggest beef in this entire episode is the Chicago Aviation Police using physical force to enforce United’s contractual right to “bump” a passenger off a flight. No government agencies should enforce a civil contract without a court order. The aviation cops should have asked the jerk to leave, and when he said “no” they should have turned to the flight crew and said “this is your problem not ours.”
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 2:00 pm:
This was a black eye not just for Chicago but for Illinois.
- E Coa - Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 2:04 pm:
State GOP missed an opportunity here to make this Madigan’s fault
- Nearly Normal - Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 2:06 pm:
Just heard on WGN that everybody on board plus those booted from the flight will get their flight paid for by United Airlines.
- DuPage - Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 2:19 pm:
Calling Slip-N-Sue, opportunity to make fast money! Oops, too late, another lawyer beat you to it.
- James Knell - Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 2:23 pm:
Just like El Trumpo said, “Get’em outta here!”
*snark warning*
- Just Observing - Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 2:24 pm:
=== This really shouldn’t warrant a response from this many political figures, but I guess that’s just the day and age we live in where everyone needs to respond to anything social media deems popular. ===
Agreed!
- Just Observing - Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 2:26 pm:
=== The aviation cops should have asked the jerk to leave, and when he said “no” they should have turned to the flight crew and said “this is your problem not ours.” ===
So any person, right or wrong, that refuses to deboard a plane should be able to hold a plane “hostage” forever?
- James Knell - Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 2:45 pm:
The aviation cops should have laid a beatdown on everyone on that flight. If they were really makers, instead of takers they would have their own private jets, right?
Oligarchs of the World Unite!
- AlfondoGonz - Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 2:49 pm:
We all know Sean Spicer is kicking himself for not coming up with “re-accommodated” before Munoz did.
- Fav Hum - Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 3:11 pm:
they should have turned to the flight crew and said “this is your problem not ours.”
But not following orders of a flight crew is in fact a Federal crime. So, they should have called the Feds?
- Arthur Andersen - Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 4:55 pm:
Two things-this was not a United mainline flight, but a 50 seat Regional Jet operated by Republic Airlines. Republic personnel made all the calls leading up to this fiasco.
Good point at 3:11 about “call in the Feds.” What Feds, exactly would one call in? TSA, if they have a tactical team stood up on Sunday night, has historically said their jurisdiction stops at the airplane door. Homeland Security PD? Probably has jurisdiction, probably would take the job, properly trained. Only question would be personnel availability on Sunday night.
Third (editorial) thing: Those three mopes from the “Aviation Police” should be emptying trash cans on midnights for the rest of their days. They displayed neither competence nor compassion necessary to be an effective sworn police officer. The reminder of the “Police” should a) get some serious retraining and b) forget any chance of gaining full police powers.
- GOPgal - Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 5:03 pm:
So all of the violence, all of the murders, all of the terrorist attacks, and the guy chooses this issue to come out of the woodwork and make a statement while ginning up a non-existent racial angle? How ridiculous.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 5:17 pm:
–The reminder of the “Police” should a) get some serious retraining and..–
I think the training issue overall is a real big deal for coppers of. any kind. In Chicago, for sure, it’s been documented that they’ve tried to operate on the cheap by cutting back training.
Remember the stolen car report last summer in Chicago that escalated into a high-speed chase through a residential neighborhood, to cops popping off shots at the car in the neighborhood to the unarmed suspect being shot in the back and killed?
That ain’t really how a stolen car investigation is supposed to go down, with a wild escalation in danger to lives and property.
And I’m sure if those cops had been properly trained, it would not have.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-chicago-police-shooting-paul-oneal-training-met-20160811-story.html
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 5:26 pm:
Tim Schneider trying to be relevant.
- jon r - Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 6:45 pm:
If a officer of the law comes up to you and request you to get out of the car generally it a good idea to comply , EVEN IF ITS A BS REASON
If you are asked to deplane the same should apply.
where is the respect due to police ? ALSO
The captain should have said this plane not leaving till 4 PEOPLE GET OFF. Its his plane and he has final say on who rides regardless
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 7:28 pm:
Why comply when you can sue for big bucks.
- DuPage Bard - Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 8:23 pm:
Tim Schneider, who’s that? He hasn’t been relevant as an opinion since he spoke for the Governor when he didn’t show at the convention.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Wednesday, Apr 12, 17 @ 10:39 pm:
=== United has handled this poorly ===
That was their critical mistake. Trying to ‘handle’ things. Sometimes, trying to control the message, like trying to physically control passengers, only ends up making things worse.
Over $800, they have seen their stock value drop $1.4 billion.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 7:24 am:
This “vicitm” appears to be a seasoned con artist. Convicted of selling scrips of cash, then reportedly hiring a male employee, only to sexually harass him.
Simple… 3 of the 4 people chosen at random vacated the plan. This clown chose, chose to act the way he did….
He should face criminal charges.