Here's A Breakdown Of Who's Investigating The Awful United Airlines Fiasco

By Stephen Gossett in News on Apr 11, 2017 9:55PM

Update, 8:30 p.m.:
Karen E. Pride, Director of Media Relations for Chicago Department of Aviation, released an updated, slightly more strongly worded statement on Tuesday evening. CDA again said the reaction did not reflect operating procedure and added "nor will we tolerate that kind of action."

CDA said in full:

"Aviation Security Officers (ASOs) are part of the public safety teams at both O'Hare and Midway, and complement and assist the Chicago Police Department (CPD), Chicago Fire Department (CFD) and federal law enforcement. While they do have limited authority to make an arrest, Sunday’s incident was not within standard operating procedures nor will we tolerate that kind of action. That is why we quickly placed the aviation security officer on leave pending a thorough review of the situation.

The action we have taken thus far reflects what we currently know, and as our review continues we will not hesitate to take additional action as appropriate."

Meanwhile, US Sens. Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin were among the legislators who wrote a letter late Tuesday to United and CEO Munoz demanding an explanation of United's operating procedure for deciding forcible removals, how often over the last year the airline has deplaned a passenger already onboard, and why the full $1,350 incentive wasn't offered to Dao, among numerous other questions.

“Consumer trust and confidence are critical to ensure this industry continues to thrive, and we hope United Airlines will work diligently to immediately address this incident and make necessary improvements to ensure it does not occur again,” the Senators wrote.

The Senators asked for a reply no later than April 24.

Original:
The violent removal of a United passenger, identified as Kentucky doctor David Dao, this weekend has prompted a wave of condemnation from lawmakers around the country. Officials in Chicago are vowing to get to the bottom, as the City Council announced a hearing for Thursday, and Mayor Rahm Emanuel said on Tuesday that Ginger Evans, the Commissioner of Chicago's Department of Aviation, is "hard at work on a thorough investigation." At the same time, a Congressman said national lawmakers may need to take the reins.

Emanuel released the statement on Tuesday afternoon. He reportedly evaded questions about the United incident when he appeared in Humboldt Park earlier in the day, to dedicate an honorary street sign to Cubs infielder Javier Baez (Rahm was summarily booed at the event, although it seems to have been a more generalized, free-floating display of dissatisfaction.) According to the mayor, the Department of Aviation is working with United Airlines on the review, although he shared no specifics about the focus. After a face-plant of an semi-apology on Monday, United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz said in a second apology that the airline's review will examine "crew movement, our policies for incentivizing volunteers in these situations, how we handle oversold situations and an examination of how we partner with airport authorities and local law enforcement."

Emanuel said in his statement:

"Anyone who saw that video had the same reaction: this was completely unacceptable at every level. I appreciate that Ginger took swift action at the Department of Aviation, and her team is already hard at work on a thorough investigation—in partnership with the airline—to ensure nothing like this ever happens again."

Meanwhile, the City Council is digging into the controversy, too. Aldermen said on Tuesday that hearings will begin Thursday to investigate the infamous ejection, in which Dao was dragged down the aisle and bloodied about the face. One aviation officer was suspended after videos of the removal spread in the news and on social media.

Ald. Mike Zalewski (23rd Ward), who serves as the City Council Aviation Committee Chairman, said he wants answers from the airline, the aviation commissioner and the aviation-police union, according to the Sun-Times.

How security, police and airlines handle (now-hyper-scrutinized) overbooked flights, and why the passenger was approached on the plane, rather than at the gate, need to be hammered out to avoid potential repeats. (It should be noted that the United flight in question was not technically overbooked; the airline needed to get some passengers to another flight because several "must-fly" employees were slated to ride that flight.)

It's also not clear why United didn't offer the full $1350 compensation that airlines are permitted to incentivize a customer being bumped.

Zalewski said, “If flights are overbooked in the future and this situation comes up again where they have to get people from one city to another, are they gonna ask paid passengers to leave the plane? How are they going to handle it differently?”

But the outrage—and calls for review—extend well beyond the local level. The US Department of Transportation said on Monday that the agency it is conducting a federal review. Also, Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-IL), who serves on the House Transportation Committee's Aviation subcommittee, said Congressional action may be in order.

"As someone who has advocated for passengers being afforded better consumer protections by airlines, this may be a case where we have to legislate appropriate action and recourse, because what occurred over the weekend can never happen again," Lipinski wrote. As Crain's points out, Lipinski has a successful history of pushing up against airline lobbies.

The Department of Transportation said in full:

"The Department of Transportation (USDOT) remains committed to protecting the rights of consumers and is reviewing the involuntary denied boarding of passenger(s) from United Express flight 3411 to determine whether the airline complied with the oversales rule. The Department is responsible for ensuring that airlines comply with the Department's consumer protection regulations including its oversales rule. While it is legal for airlines to involuntary bump passengers from an oversold flight when there are not enough volunteers, it is the airline's responsibility to determine its own fair boarding priorities."

Dao meanwhile was still recovering in a Chicago hospital on Tuesday. He reportedly said "everything" is injured and that he is not doing well.