Shocking footage was shared and watched by millions of people online.
The latest incident to hit United Airlines’ reputation came on April 26 when it announced an investigation into the death of a giant rabbit which was being transported on one of its planes.
Image source Flickr
The 90cm-long bunny, called Simon, was found dead in the cargo hold when the flight arrived at Chicago’s O’Hare airport from London Heathrow.
Law enforcement officials dragged Dr. David Dao off the flight forcibly after the 69-year-old Vietnamese-American physician had refused to leave, saying he needed to go home to see his patients.
David Dao’s lawyer later said that the man found the experience “more horrifying and harrowing than what he experienced when leaving Vietnam”.
The ordeal led to demonstrations at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport and turned into a public relations disaster for United Airlines.
United Airlines offered compensation to all customers on board the flight.
In addition to the $10,000 compensation offer, the series of actions announced as part of the report into the incident includes:
No more use of law enforcement officers to remove passengers from flights unless it is a matter of safety and security
Seated passengers will not be asked to leave involuntarily
Crews to be booked on flights 60 minutes before departure
Annual training for staff to handle “the most difficult situations”
United Airlines flight 1463 from Chicago to Santa Ana, California, made an emergency landing in Wichita, Kansas, after an evacuation slide accidentally inflated mid-flight on Sunday night.
After landing, passenger Sara Schroeder tweeted: “Gentlemen in shiny metallic suits checking out the @united plane.”
Nobody was injured, the airline said.
United Airlines flight 1463 from Chicago to Santa Ana, made an emergency landing in Wichita after an evacuation slide accidentally inflated mid-flight (photo abc7)
Flight 1463 made a rapid descent, according to Flight Aware website, and landed in Wichita at 10:36 p.m. local time (11:36 p.m. ET).
The Boeing 737-700 with 96 aboard took off from Chicago at 8:18 p.m. (9:18 p.m. ET), according to United Airlines spokeswoman Christen David.
Christen David added that the airline was flying in another aircraft to resume the flight “and get our customers to their final destination as quickly as possible.”
A United Airlines plane with 161 passengers on board was forced to make an emergency landing after the pilot suffered what was later proved to be a fatal heart attack.
The flight from Houston, Texas to Seattle, Washington was diverted to Boise, Idaho on Thursday evening.
Passengers on board with medical training attempted life saving manoeuvres prior to landing.
Pilot Henry Skillern, 63, later died in hospital.
The flight from Houston, Texas to Seattle, Washington was diverted to Boise, Idaho
He had worked for the airline for 26 years.
The flight’s first officer radioed the Boise airport’s control tower at 19:55 on Thursday to report a medical emergency.
Two military medical residents onboard tended to Henry Skillern as the plane made its emergency approach, according to media reports.
The plane landed at the airport by 20:10 and was greeted by firefighters who removed Henry Skillern and transported him to a local hospital.
The Texas resident later succumbed to a fatal heart attack.
An airport official told the Associated Press news agency the 161 passengers on board the Boeing 737 aircraft appeared to handle the incident well.
“It seemed like they felt that everything that could be done, was being done. The passengers were concerned for him, but everyone was very calm,” Boise airport spokeswoman Patti Miller said.
Another pilot later joined the crew and flew the original plane on to its final destination in Seattle.
United Airlines has decided to honor airline tickets sold for as little as $0 because of a computer error.
United Airlines, one of the largest in the US, said it was unsure how many steeply discounted tickets it had issued.
It temporarily shut down its website and ceased taking telephone orders after discovering the error.
United Airlines has decided to honor airline tickets sold for as little as $0 because of a computer error
The tickets were sold on Thursday through its online booking system. Passengers must still pay US security fees of about $5 – $10.
“We’ve reviewed the error that occurred yesterday and based on these specific circumstances, we will honor the tickets,” the airline wrote in a tweet.
US travelers snatched up tickets for destinations as far afield as Hawaii.
Bob Stokas of Oak Lawn, a suburb of Chicago, told a local NBC affiliate he had been shopping for a return fare to Los Angeles, expecting to pay as much as $800.
“When I scrolled down past the non-stop fares, when I got to the connecting flights, the flights to and from Los Angeles per person was $10,” he told the broadcaster.
“That was a shock and a surprise, and I was like, <<I’ve got to book this flight right now before they rescind their offer of $10 for this flight>>.”
Boeing has announced an “historic” order from United Airlines for 150 Boeing 737s, in a deal worth up to $14.7 billion.
The order comprises 100 of the new Boeing 737 Max 9 planes and 50 Next Generation 737-900ER aircraft.
Boeing said the deal meant it had now received more than 10,000 orders overall for aircraft from the 737 family.
Boeing said the 737 was the “undisputed best-selling jetliner in the world”.
It said the Next Generation 737 was “the most fuel-efficient and reliable” single-aisle plane in the market.
Boeing has announced an "historic" order from United Airlines for 150 Boeing 737s, in a deal worth up to $14.7 billion
The 737 Max, which is a new-engine variant on the Next Generation 737, builds on these strengths, Boeing said, reducing fuel use and carbon dioxide emissions by 13%.
“United and Boeing share a rich history together and we are delighted United has chosen the 737 for its future fleet, renewing our partnership for decades to come,” said Ray Conner, chief executive of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
Jeff Smisek, chief executive of United, said: “We look forward to offering our customers the modern features and reliability of new Boeing airplanes, while also making our fleet more fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly.”
United Continental, the parent company of United Airlines, said it would begin taking delivery of the 737 Max 9 planes in 2018.
The 737-900ERs will be delivered from late 2013.
Both planes feature a quieter cabin and brighter lighting, designed to give the impression of more space.
The deal is valued at $14.7 billion at list prices, although major airlines like United do not pay list prices.
United Airlines is the world’s biggest carrier. In 2011, it flew more than two million flights, carrying 142 million passengers.
Earlier on Thursday, Boeing’s European rival Airbus announced a further $6.35 billion of potential orders at the Farnborough airshow.
The four deals Airbus has announced so far this week, if completed, would total $16.9 billion for 115 aircraft.
George Lagen, a top traveller from Chicago, is protesting United Airlines after the airline company took away some of the “perks” that he became accustomed to while flying.
The man isn’t complaining about a lack of baggage room or having to pay for snacks, however.
George Lagen is one of the insightful few to buy an unlimited lifetime travel ticket that came fully-loaded with bonuses.
The tickets, originally sold by American Airlines in a push for instant cash, were bought by 66 passengers before they stopped the offer.
After paying $350,000 for the ticket in 1987, George Lagen and one other passenger were able to travel the world in first class on as many of the airline’s flights as he desired.
George Lagen, a top traveller from Chicago, is protesting United Airlines after the airline company took away some of the “perks” that he became accustomed to while flying
That he did, George Lagen took 1,000 trips to New York, 500 to Los Angeles, San Francisco and London. Another 80 of his trips landed in Sydney and 50 more in Hong Kong.
All told, George Lagen estimates that he has earned 40 million miles, deservedly earning him the status of a “Million Miler”.
Those select few to gain that elusive title were treated to seat upgrades, early boarding, and the second-highest status given to travellers: “premier executive”.
Additionally, for every flight Million Milers took, they were given the same amount back in frequent flier miles that they could then use towards future flights.
George Lagen told ABC that he is now suing the airline because a number of those perks, to which he had become accustomed, were taken away after United merged with Continental Airlines.
The Million Milers are now handled by the MileagePlus program which has demoted them to the third level of flier (called “Premier Gold” rather than “executive”), fewer upgrades, and half of the frequent flier miles per flight.
The suit alleges that the merger with Continental caused “immediate and significant retroactive demotion of benefits to Million Milers”.
“In stark contrast to the gutting of promised and bargained-for benefits for Million Milers, the new MileagePlus Program perversely and arbitrarily rewards former members of Continental Airlines former Continental One Pass frequent flier program.
“United’s egregious actions, if left unabated, will result in its unlawlly, not to mention immorally, retaining the millions upon millions of dollars it received from Million Miler members.”
In spite of the breach of contract, good faith and fair dealing suit, the company maintains that they have done nothing wrong and that the suit is meritless.
“We greatly value our Million Milers and are continuing to deliver valuable and highly competitive benefits with our lifetime program. One Million Milers receive benefits at the 50,000-mile premier status level – the same as before,” a spokesman for United Airlines said in a statement.
That means little to George Lagen, who puts it simply: “A deal’s a deal.”
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