San Francisco State University Student Reaction to United Airline Incident

by Shabaz Kazia and Joyce Huang

SAN FRANCISCO STATE UNIVERSITY

SF State students voiced their anger with the United Airlines incident, where a man was violently removed from his flight by United Airlines.

United Airlines last Sunday, instructed Chicago Aviation Security Officers to forcibly remove

Dr. David Dao, 69, after he refused to give his seat to a staff member, according to a United Airline’s News Release.

“I can’t believe this is their way to solve things. This isn’t right to treat a 69-year-old man. He is a passenger, not a criminal, “Said Hanqing Huang.

The flight was intentionally overbooked by United Airlines to secure a full flight. This is a widespread practice by airlines, who overbook flights due to the odds that at least one person will not show up.

This unfortunately does not always happen.

United Express Flight 34111, was at capacity and a seat was need for one of the crew members. Flight staff offered a volunteer up to $1000 dollars’ compensation, but no one was willing to offer their seat. Dao was randomly selected but refused.

“If this is how United Airline treat their clients, I will reconsider taking their flights even if they have the cheapest offer,” said Samantha Moor.

Dao suffered from a concussion, broken nose, sinus injury, has lost two front teeth and will be undergoing “facial reconstruction” surgery. Dao is currently working with lawyer Thomas A. Demetrio, to file a lawsuit against United Airlines.

“The whole situation can be solved in another way rather than violence,” Said Dustin Lu, Computer Science Student. “They could even find somebody who is willing to give up their seats in exchange for better United flight privileges,”

SF State students were shocked and upset by this incident and will not be looking towards United Airlines for their next flight.

“The video of the passenger being removed offended me,” Said information systems major Logan Hanson, 22, ‘” I think it’s flawed and frustrating policy and United needs to treat their customers like human beings. The poor man was bleeding and it looked like he had an emotional breakdown. If this is how United treats their customers, then I want nothing to do with them.”