The Chicago Department of Aviation is defending the officers in the infamous United Airlines video, saying they used “minimal but necessary force” when they dragged a passenger off a flight.A report from the department describes what the officers say happened earlier this month on United Express Flight 3411. It says that the passenger, David Dao, was “aggressive” and “violently” swung his arms at officers, who then had to forcibly remove him from the plane.The encounter, captured on videos taken by other passengers, and the airline company’s handling of the aftermath set off an international outrage and a prolonged public relations nightmare for United.According to the report, flight crews called security officers because a passenger, Dao, was yelling and refusing to leave the aircraft. A United official earlier told passengers that it needed four volunteers to give up their seats for off-duty crew members. But no one volunteered, so the airline chose the passengers. Three agreed to leave, but Dao, a 69-year-old Kentucky resident, refused.Three officers tried several times to convince Dao to give up his seat, the report says.“I’m not leaving this flight that I paid money for. I don’t care if I get arrested,” he told one of the officers, according to the report.Read more: ‘Apalling’ United Airlines incident won’t be tolerated in Canada: GarneauUnited Airlines CEO calls passenger removal ‘truly horrific’ as backlash growsUnited will no longer ask police to remove passengers from planes: CEOThe report says Dao became increasingly combative and began swinging his arms with his fists closed after one of the officers tried to grab him. It says the officer was able to pull Dao up from his seat and toward the aisle, but then lost his grip because Dao kept fighting.That’s when Dao fell and hit his mouth on the armrest, according to the report, which was ...
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