A Bloodied Man Was Dragged Off an American Flight So a Staff Member Could Take His Seat

Footage of a bloodied man being dragged off a United Airlines flight in America has enraged the internet.

Disturbing video was taken by passengers on an overbooked United Airlines flight from Chicago to Louisville, Kentucky.

While still on the runway at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport, staff asked for volunteers to give up their seats on the flight, to accommodate four United employees also trying to get to Louisville.

Passengers were then reportedly told they would be chosen at random, since no one was willing to leave.

Though three of the randomly selected passengers left (with the hotel vouchers they'd been offered for the inconvenience), one man refused to exit, claiming he was a doctor with patients waiting for him in Louisville, the New York Times reports.

Authorities then dragged the man out of his seat; an encounter that left him bloodied and dazed, as captured by phones recording the incident. The man then ran to the back of the plane, his face covered in blood.

@United overbook #flight3411 and decided to force random passengers off the plane. Here's how they did it: pic.twitter.com/QfefM8X2cW

— Jayse D. Anspach (@JayseDavid) April 10, 2017

The passenger at the center of the incident was taken off the plane on a stretcher, after he collapsed sideways into a seat.

Though the United employees eventually took their newly-vacant seats, the disorder on the flight led to a three-hour delay.

United CEO Oscasr Munoz responded with a statement to Twitter.

A leaked letter to staff indicated that he felt his employees “followed established procedures for dealing with situations like this.”

“While I deeply regret this situation arose, I also emphatically stand behind all of you, and I want to commend you for continuing to go above and beyond to ensure we fly right.”

It’s fair to say he is not reading the mood of the public at all.

"For the comfort and safety of the other passengers, please remember we will be resorting to cannibalism BY GROUP NUMBER" #united

— Joss Whedon (@joss) April 10, 2017

This could be me or you next time. Shame on @United who broke customer trust + instigated this. Shame on the airport cops. Cowardly assault. https://t.co/MY729HippE

— Ava DuVernay (@ava) April 10, 2017

cannot wait to use "i will re-accommodate your ass" in my next fight

— christine teigen (@chrissyteigen) April 10, 2017

Lol who came up with this... PEPSI: We made the biggest PR blunder of any company this year

UNITED: Hold my Pepsi

— THE CHAINSMOKERS (@TheChainsmokers) April 11, 2017

It's common for airlines to overbook flights, with the knowledge that several passengers will fail to arrive and claim their spot. Those who cannot be seated are usually offered vouchers in return.

No doubt this latest incident will force numerous airlines to reconsider that policy (or, at the very least, how they can keep from dragging customers away, kicking and screaming, after they've boarded).

Photo: Twitter (Tyler Bridges)