PASSENGER HARASSMENT

United Airlines suffers near $1b loss in value

United CEO apologises, promises ‘thorough review’

Shares in United Continental Holdings fell yesterday as the company continued to draw fierce criticism for violently removing a passenger from an overbooked United Airlines flight so staff could take his seat, reports The Independent, UK. In mid-morning trading on Wall Street, shares in the group were down around 4 per cent, wiping close to $1bn off the company's total market value, according to Thomson Reuters data.  United Continental Holdings was also the second biggest faller on the S&P 500 index. Footage of the incident, which occurred at Chicago's O'Hare International airport on a flight bound for Louisville, was shared on social media and prompted outrage globally.
The man who was removed from the flight said that he was a doctor and needed to get home to treat patients the next day. He was filmed with blood flowing down his chin afterwards, saying: “I want to go home, I want to go home." The chief executive of United Airlines unequivocally apologized yesterday for the incident and promised a "thorough review" of the airline's practices, adds AFP.
The apology came after mounting criticism of the carrier's actions stemming from a Sunday flight, when a passenger was dragged off a plane and bloodied in the process.
The US Department of Transportation promised to investigate the incident. "I continue to be disturbed by what happened on this flight and I deeply apologize to the customer forcibly removed and to all the customers aboard," Munoz said Tuesday. "I want you to know that we take full responsibility and we will work to make it right." The comments were in contrast to Munoz's earlier statements. US media published a company email the CEO sent to employees, in which he appeared to put partial blame for the incident on the 69-year-old passenger, saying he "defied" authorities and "compounded" the incident.

PASSENGER HARASSMENT

United Airlines suffers near $1b loss in value

United CEO apologises, promises thorough review

Shares in United Continental Holdings fell yesterday as the company continued to draw fierce criticism for violently removing a passenger from an overbooked United Airlines flight so staff could take his seat, reports The Independent, UK. In mid-morning trading on Wall Street, shares in the group were down around 4 per cent, wiping close to $1bn off the companys total market value, according to Thomson Reuters data. United Continental Holdings was also the second biggest faller on the SP 500 index. Footage of the incident, which occurred at Chicagos OHare International airport on a flight bound for Louisville, was shared on social media and prompted outrage globally. The man who was removed from the flight said that he was a doctor and needed to get home to treat patients the next day. He was filmed with blood flowing down his chin afterwards, saying: I want to go home, I want to go home. The chief executive of United Airlines unequivocally apologized yesterday for the incident and promised a thorough review of the airlines practices, adds AFP. The apology came after mounting criticism of the carriers actions stemming from a Sunday flight, when a passenger was dragged off a plane and bloodied in the process. The US Department of Transportation promised to investigate the incident. I continue to be disturbed by what happened on this flight and I deeply apologize to the customer forcibly removed and to all the customers aboard, Munoz said Tuesday. I want you to know that we take full responsibility and we will work to make it right. The comments were in contrast to Munozs earlier statements. US media published a company email the CEO sent to employees, in which he appeared to put partial blame for the incident on the 69-year-old passenger, saying he defied authorities and compounded the incident.