United Airlines Passenger Dragged Off Plane by Airport Employees Brute force was used to drag a paying passenger off one of its planes on Sunday night.

By Rose Leadem

Opinions expressed by BIZ Experiences contributors are their own.

Scott Olson | Getty Images

A United Airlines passenger who thought he'd be flying from Chicago to Louisville Sunday night was in for a pretty nasty surprise.

Related: Good, Bad and Just Ugly Customer Service Trends

Overbooking United Express Flight 3411, United employees desperately sought volunteers who would give up their seats in return for reimbursements of $400 and $800. There were no takers. United then took desperate measures.

After boarding flight passengers, three security officers approached a seated man and asked him to give up his seat. He refused. The guards then yanked the unnamed man from his seat. While screaming in resistance, the officers dragged the passenger by his arms to the front of the plane. Frightening and shocking other passengers, the man goes silent, with his abdomen showing and his glasses disheveled, while they continue to drag him towards the front.

Related: The Mistakes That Make a PR Crisis Even Worse

Married passengers Aubra and Tyler Bridges documented the traumatizing event, posting a 30-second clip to social media, which has since gone viral. According to Aubra, United used its computer system to randomly select four passengers to deboard the overbooked flight, the unidentified man being one of them.

Eventually, the passenger, who said he was a doctor and needed to see his patients in the morning, was able to get back on the plane -- returning disoriented and with a bloody face.

Responding to the incident, United Airlines issued a public statement on Twitter, apologizing for the event, calling it "upsetting" and claiming it would investigate it further.

It didn't take long before the social media world had its heyday over the incident.
Rose Leadem is a freelance writer for BIZ Experiences.com. 

Want to be an BIZ Experiences Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Most Popular

See all
Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for BIZ Experiencess to pursue in 2025.

By Eve Gumpel
Science & Technology

OpenAI's Latest Move Is a Game Changer — Here's How Smart Solopreneurs Are Turning It Into Profit

OpenAI's latest AI tool acts like a full-time assistant, helping solopreneurs save time, find leads and grow their business without hiring.

By Ben Angel
Social Media

How To Start a Youtube Channel: Step-by-Step Guide

YouTube can be a valuable way to grow your audience. If you're ready to create content, read more about starting a business YouTube Channel.

By Jason R. Rich
Money & Finance

These Are the Expected Retirement Ages By Generation, From Gen Z to Boomers — and the Average Savings Anticipated. How Do Yours Compare?

Many Americans say inflation prevents them from saving enough and fear they won't reach their financial goals.

By Amanda Breen
Starting a Business

I Built a $20 Million Company by Age 22 While Still in College. Here's How I Did It and What I Learned Along the Way.

Wealth-building in your early twenties isn't about playing it safe; it's about exploiting the one time in life when having nothing to lose gives you everything to gain.

By Emil Barr
Science & Technology

AI Isn't Plug-and-Play — You Need a Strategy. Here's Your Guide to Building One.

Don't just "add AI" — build a strategy. This guide helps founders avoid common pitfalls and create a step-by-step roadmap to harness real value from AI.

By Nicholas Leighton