#NewUnitedAirlinesMottos: Arab airlines, social media troll 'violent' American carrier
#NewUnitedAirlinesMottos: Arab airlines, social media troll 'violent' American carrier
The internet has responded ruthlessly to the forced removal of an elderly doctor from a United Airlines flight, footage of which went viral on Monday.
5 min read
11 Apr, 2017
The Internet has responded ruthlessly to the airline's violence against a customer [Twitter/TNA composite]
The internet has responded ruthlessly to the forced removal of a Chinese-American doctor from a United Airlines flight, footage of which went viral on Monday.
Even an Arab airline joined the fray, taking a jab at the the US-based carrier for using violence against one of its customers.
"We would like to remind you that drags on our flights are strictly prohibited by passengers and crew", tweeted Royal Jordanian Airlines, in a play on words.
RJ have come known for their tongue-in-cheek social media posts, including those mocking Trump's Muslim ban and the recent electronics restrictions on Middle East flights.
In the same spirit, the online public opinion known collectively as The Internet rushed to put their satirical copywriting talents to use, proposing new slogans for United Airlines using the hashtag #NewUnitedAirlinesMottos.
"Love the new United slogan "Not enough seating, prepare for a beating," tweeted one Cedric Pinter.
A satirical website, impressed by United's efficiency at 'removing' people, even hinted the airline's services could be put to use in removing brutal Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, headlining a parody piece: "Pentagon Awards Contract To United Airlines To Forcibly Remove Assad".
Social media storm
Even an Arab airline joined the fray, taking a jab at the the US-based carrier for using violence against one of its customers.
"We would like to remind you that drags on our flights are strictly prohibited by passengers and crew", tweeted Royal Jordanian Airlines, in a play on words.
RJ have come known for their tongue-in-cheek social media posts, including those mocking Trump's Muslim ban and the recent electronics restrictions on Middle East flights.
In the same spirit, the online public opinion known collectively as The Internet rushed to put their satirical copywriting talents to use, proposing new slogans for United Airlines using the hashtag #NewUnitedAirlinesMottos.
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"Love the new United slogan "Not enough seating, prepare for a beating," tweeted one Cedric Pinter.
A satirical website, impressed by United's efficiency at 'removing' people, even hinted the airline's services could be put to use in removing brutal Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, headlining a parody piece: "Pentagon Awards Contract To United Airlines To Forcibly Remove Assad".
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The social media storm prompted by footage of United Airlines forcibly removing a passenger from an overbooked flight continued to spread on Tuesday with accusations of perceived racism and calls for a boycott of the US carrier |  |
Apart from satire, the incident is also being taken seriously.
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The social media storm prompted by the footage of United Airlines forcibly removing a passenger from an overbooked flight continued to spread on Tuesday with accusations of perceived racism and calls for a boycott of the US carrier.
Footage from the incident in which a Chinese-American passenger was dragged from his seat quickly went viral with outrage extending even to China.
The incident occurred Sunday on a United Express flight from Chicago to Louisville, Kentucky. Such flights are operated by one of eight regional airlines that partner with United.
The airline said it had asked for volunteers to give up their seats, and police were called in after one passenger refused to leave the plane.
Smartphone video posted online showed three Chicago Department of Aviation police officers struggling with a seated middle-aged man.
He starts to scream as he is dragged off while other passengers look on - some recording the event with their phones.
One passenger can be heard yelling, "Oh my God, look at what you did to him!"
The showdown quickly ignited social media outrage, with "United" a trending term on Twitter, Facebook and Google.
The footage was also re-posted on China's Twitter-like Sina Weibo, where the incident quickly became the top trending topic, garnering more than 120 million views and 80,000 comments.
"Shameless! We won't forgive them. Ethnic Chinese around the world please boycott United Airlines!" wrote one commentator.
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It was another example of bad press and negative social media coverage for United after an incident in late March in which two teenage girls were prevented from boarding a flight in Denver because they were wearing leggings. | |
'Upsetting for all'
In a statement late Monday, the Chicago Department of Aviation said the incident was "not in accordance with our standard operating procedure and the actions of the aviation security officer are obviously not condoned by the department."
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"That officer has been placed on leave effective today pending a thorough review of the situation," the statement said.
It was another example of bad press and negative social media coverage for United after an incident in late March in which two teenage girls were prevented from boarding a flight in Denver because they were wearing leggings.
The airline defended its action at the time by saying the girls were flying on passes that required them to abide by a dress code in return for free or discounted travel.
Speaking to various media outlets about Sunday's incident, the airline said it had asked for volunteers to leave the overbooked plane.
"One customer refused to leave the aircraft voluntarily and law enforcement was asked to come to the gate," United spokesman Charlie Hobart was quoted by the Chicago Tribune newspaper as saying.
United did not return AFP's request for comment, but the airline addressed the incident in a statement posted on its website on Monday.
"This is an upsetting event to all of us," said chief executive Oscar Munoz, noting that the airline was conducting a "detailed review of what happened."
"We are also reaching out to this passenger to talk directly to him and further address and resolve this situation," he said.
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US airlines are allowed to involuntarily bump passengers off overbooked flights | |
Passengers 'disturbed'
Tyler Bridges, who posted footage of Sunday's incident on Twitter, said the man appeared to be bloodied after his encounter with the law enforcement officials.
Bridges also posted video showing the man running back on the plane, repeatedly saying, "I have to go home." He appeared to be pacing and disoriented.
"Not a good way to treat a doctor trying to get to work because they overbooked," he wrote.
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He described passenger reaction on the plane as "disturbed" saying: "Kids were crying."
US airlines are allowed to involuntarily bump passengers off overbooked flights, with compensation, if enough volunteers cannot be found, according to the Department of Transportation.
Input from AFP
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