One of the most controversial issues that has taken place over the past few weeks is the incident that happened aboard a flight with United Airlines on April 9th, 2017. On this day, a paying customer was asked to leave Flight 3411 after the airline had overbooked in order to make room for United Airlines staff members. The customer in question, David Dao, refused to leave mentioning that he was a doctor and had to stay on the flight in order to see his patients in time. Upon refusing, Dr. Dao was forcibly removed from his seat and dragged through the aisle of the aircraft. What resulted was a public relations disaster for the airline; taking form in the #UnitedAirlines hashtag. Most people, like Twitter user @MoDaCoatLFPress, were outwardly disgusted by United’s actions:
I won't use United because of lousy service. Today's assault on passenger just emphasizes how awful they are as a company. #unitedAIRLINES
— Morris Dallacosta (@MoDaCoatLFPress) April 10, 2017
Some even called for a complete boycott of the airline and it’s services:
Manhandling & insult of a passenger by #United airlines is unacceptable. Let's all boycott #unitedAIRLINES & teach them an exemplary lesson
— Anwer Ali (@anwerishere) April 12, 2017
Some, however, were not so convinced that United was in the wrong. Many believed that Dr. Dao should have left when asked:
#unitedAIRLINES handled that so poorly, awful. But dude, their plane, their rules. Get off the plane, comply now, complain later.
— RMute (@RodneyMute) April 12, 2017
Many even ventured to say that the man deserved the treatment he received:
that dude deserved to get dragged off that @united flight #unitedAIRLINES
— Doe Wright (@DoeWRlGHT) April 11, 2017
Instead of focusing on which side to agree with, Twitter user @jeffsmyth used the situation to make an important point about the often underutilized power of bystanders:
@BenMulroney when you pull out a cell phone you remain a bystander #UnitedAirlines We teach our kids to step in yet these adults refused.
— Jeff Smyth (@jeffsmyth) April 12, 2017
This is a very contentious ongoing issue in our current news and it will be interesting to see how the legal proceedings turn out and how the conversation on social media will continue. Until then, we will continue to see opinions on both sides of the issue, as well as those who are using other recent controversies to make light of the situation:
Heh! This would have never happened if that guy had offered the @United security guys a #Pepsi #unitedAIRLINES
— Marcellus King (@korrupted) April 10, 2017