2017年5月vol250翱翔在不友善的天空.DOC

~ PAGE 1 ~ May. 20, 2017 Vol. 250 by Jason Grenier, special correspondent Fly the Unfriendly Skies? When Dr. David Dao boarded the United Airlines flight, he never imagined he’d be violently assaulted and dragged off the plane before it even left the ground. But that’s exactly what happened when the flight crew asked four passengers to give up their seats so that United Airlines staff could fly to another airport. Three passengers agreed in exchange for cash. Dr. Dao was chosen at random to be the fourth. After he refused several times, he was grabbed by airport security personnel and removed from the plane against his will. Millions of people viewed the shocking video of the incident, filmed by other passengers on smartphones and uploaded to the Internet. Dr. Dao’s limp body was pulled down the aisle toward the cabin door, as passengers scolded the police. Dao’s eyes were closed and his glasses appeared broken. Blood dripped from his lip. United Airlines has been left scrambling to contain the damage to its reputation. Initially, the company’s CEO made a blunder by defending the airline’s actions. Not until public opinion against United Airlines mounted did the CEO apologize and promise that such things would never happen again. The viral video led to widespread public outrage because United Airlines would dare to treat a paying passenger like a criminal. Many travelers are boycotting the airline, choosing to fly with other carriers instead. Ironically, “Fly the Friendly Skies” is the airline’s advertising slogan. The incident has sparked discussions about passengers’ rights and airline business practices. Some say the so-called “fine print” containing the contract terms of a ticket gave United Airlines the right to ask the police to remove Dr. Dao for being uncooperative. But most people feel the doctor’s civil rights are seriously violated, and he should sue United Airlines for millions of dollars. In the end, Dr. Dao has reached a settlement with the airline