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Competitor Airlines Troll United After Passenger is Dragged Off

United Airlines│
United Airlines│ | © Skeeze/Pixabay

If Trump’s recent electronics ban has shown us anything, it’s that airlines can dish out their own sass in the face of controversy (here’s looking at you, Royal Jordanian). Following the recent brash removal of a passenger, competitor airlines have started to troll United Airlines.

United Airlines has found itself in the midst of a public relations nightmare after a video emerged showing the forced removal of a passenger. Apparently due to an overbooked flight, four randomly selected passengers were asked to leave a Chicago flight, bound for Kentucky. When one of the passengers, who we now know to be Dr. David Dao, refused to leave the aircraft, video caught three security officials dragging the man off the plane, bloodied and beaten.

The news of United Airlines’ faux pas, has taken the internet by storm. Travelers are expressing outrage at the disregard for passenger rights, while United Airlines’ protestors have taken to Yelp to flood the airline with negative reviews.

Like vultures descending on their prey, United Airlines’ competitors have begun to troll the brand for their recent media storm.

We are here to keep you #united Dragging is strictly prohibited 🚫 pic.twitter.com/CSjZD7fM4J
— Royal Jordanian (@RoyalJordanian) April 10, 2017
Royal Jordanian, one of the more outspoken airlines on social media, hit the issue head on with a blatant jab at United Airlines.
Fly the friendly skies with a real airline. pic.twitter.com/wE5C5n6LvnEmirates airline (@emirates) April 11, 2017
Meanwhile, Emirates picked up a pitchfork and joined the mob by releasing a video that addresses United Airlines’ CEO directly: “Well Mr. Munoz, according to TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel site, not only are we a real airline … we are the best airline.”

In the latest twist surrounding this bizarre story, USA Today reports that the plane may not have even been overbooked. United spokesman Jonathan Guerin told USA Today, “All 70 seats on United Express Flight 3411 were filled, but the plane was not overbooked as the airline previously reported. Instead, United and regional affiliate Republic Airlines, which operated the flight, selected four passengers to be removed to accommodate crew members needed in Louisville the next day.”

United Airlines CEO, Oscar Munoz, released a statement expressing his concern and apology over the unfolding situation: “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. No one should ever be mistreated this way.”

As the United Airlines’ video continues to make its rounds on news outlets and social media, the internet has banded together in a mutual frustration of the many issues that plague air travel. Hell hath no fury like the internet scorned.

About the author

Nikki Vargas was Travel Editor of Culture Trip. Nikki's previous work has appeared on VICE, Roads & Kingdoms, Huffpost, NPR and more. In addition, Nikki is the Founder of The Pin the Map Project, voted a top 100 travel blog of 2015. Nikki was a speaker at the New York Travel Fest, Women's Travel Fest and The New York Times Travel Show. See more of Nikki's work here: http://www.nikkivargas.com

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