RantCrush Top 5: April 10, 2017

Videos and pictures posted on social media show how security officers forcibly pulled a man out of his seat on a United flight and then dragged him through the aisle. The airline had overbooked the flight and asked people to volunteer to take another flight. According to passengers, everyone was allowed to board the plane, but the staff later asked four people to voluntarily get off, which no one was willing to do.

.@united Here’s another angle. Statement, @united? This is how you remove a paying customer when you overbook a flight? https://t.co/rfMqgIM10q

— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) April 10, 2017

Security officers were then called to the plane and picked a random passenger and asked him to get off. But the man said he was a doctor and had patients he needed to see the next day. The officers then forcibly removed him from his seat and in doing so hit his head against the armrest, causing his mouth to bleed. The man looked like he passed out before he was dragged along the floor while fellow passengers yelled out in disgust. After last month’s leggings story, this doesn’t exactly improve United’s image.

This is assault. Assault.

Brought to you by @united, the airline who thinks 10 year old girls in leggings aren’t properly dressed to fly. https://t.co/zrVgYIjGmt

— …she persisted. 🗽 (@leahmcelrath) April 10, 2017

Emma Von Zeipel

Emma Von Zeipel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. She is originally from one of the islands of Stockholm, Sweden. After working for Democratic Voice of Burma in Thailand, she ended up in New York City. She has a BA in journalism from Stockholm University and is passionate about human rights, good books, horses, and European chocolate. Contact Emma at EVonZeipel@LawStreetMedia.com.