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United Airlines says no one fired over dragging

United Airlines CEO has confirmed no one will be fired over the David Dao incident.

United Airlines CEO has confirmed no one will be fired over the David Dao incident. Photo: AAP

The CEO of United Airlines says no one will be fired over the dragging of a man off a plane – including himself.

CEO Oscar Munoz said on Tuesday that he takes full responsibility “for making this right” and he promised more details later this month after United finishes a review of its policies on overbooked flights.

Company executives said it’s too soon to know if the incident is hurting ticket sales.

United has been pummelled on social media – #BoycottUnited a popular hashtag – and late-night television.

Through Tuesday, its shares have fallen 4.4 per cent since Flight 3411, wiping out nearly $US1 billion in market value, although some other airline stocks also declined in the same period.

After the market closed on Monday, United reported a $US96 million first-quarter profit, down 69 per cent from a year earlier largely because of higher costs for fuel, labour and maintenance.

The revenue picture was looking better – evidence was growing that after two years of falling average fares, United will be able to push prices higher this year.

On a conference call to discuss those results, Munoz started by apologising again for the April 9 scene on a United Express plane at Chicago’s O’Hare airport.

David Dao, a 69-year-old doctor, was bloodied and dragged off the plane by Chicago airport officers who had been summoned by United employees when Dao wouldn’t give up his seat.

The three officers have all been suspended.

Munoz and other executives vowed to treat customers with dignity, and said that what happened to Dao will never happen again.

United Airlines CEO

Dr Dao was forcibly removed from the United Airlines flight.

Munoz’s early statements on the incident were widely criticised. He initially supported employees and blamed Dao, calling him “disruptive and belligerent.”

On Tuesday, he was asked if the company ever considered firing anyone, including management.

“I’m sure there was lots of conjecture about me personally,” said Munoz. He noted that the board of United Continental Holdings Inc has supported him.

“It was a system failure across various areas,” Munoz continued.

“There was never a consideration for firing an employee.”

Dao’s lawyers have taken steps that foreshadow a lawsuit against the airline and the city of Chicago, which operates O’Hare Airport.

– AAP

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