United flies regional jets between O’Hare and Louisville. (Image: United)
The doctor who was violently dragged off a United Airlines flight from Chicago to Louisville three months ago has given his first interview, and said that the event has done more damage to his psyche and his brain than to his body.
The incident, captured on other passengers’ cell phone videos, was widely broadcast on TV news and replayed endlessly on the Internet, leading to a plunge in United’s stock value and changes in overbooking policies at United and other major airlines.
Dr. David Dao, 69, told the U.K. newspaper The Daily Mail that he can’t remember anything about his forced removal from the flight, in which his head was accidentally but violently slammed into an armrest. He suffered a concussion, two lost teeth and a broken nose.
Dao said he will get surgery to repair his nose, but he said his real worries are about his brain.
He told The Daily Mail that because of the concussion, he is suffering from sleeping problems, loss of coordination, depression, and trouble concentrating. He has not yet returned to work and doesn’t know when he will be able to. Dao said his neurologist told him that it is impossible to say how long those problems will last, or if they might be permanent.
Dao told the newspaper that before the incident, he was an avid runner, having participated in 31 marathons around the country. But now, “I cannot run, I just walk slowly. I can only cook and use a computer very slowly,” he said in the interview. He said he rarely leaves his home any more.
Would he fly United again? Surprisingly, the answer is: Yes! Dao told the Mail: “I would fly with United again, because aviation policy has changed after the accident, I want to see how it’s changed. I would be happy to fly tomorrow if I was well enough. They haven’t offered me free flights though.”
Although United CEO Oscar Munoz went on an “apology tour” after the incident, appearing on several national TV news programs and before a Congressional committee, he never personally contacted Dr. Dao, the doctor said. The only communications were between United and Dao’s lawyer.
United and Dao reached a private settlement, so no lawsuit has been filed; the terms were not disclosed.
H/T: The Daily Mail
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Danny has explained the situation perfectly. The guy behaved like a jerk. All the protesting and hitting back going on today, without repercussions … this country will pay the price for our attitudes some day.
@plzspamme, Your past will always haunt you. Once a thief always a thief. A leopard can not change its spots.
He got the money! He got the money!
He was told by United to leave their property. The next time a guy comes into your house and sits naked watching Wheel of Fortune with your wife and you ask him to leave your property, like United did, remember that you can not do a thing because you are NOT a police officer?
It was the City of Chicago Aviation Police. They weren’t allowed to carry firearms by department policy, but they legally were police officers. At least until yesterday.
http://abc7chicago.com/news/chicago-aviation-police-decertified-by-state/2209723/
Whoa, what’s with all the hate comments here assassinating Mr. Dao’s character? And how is his criminal record, mentioned by other commenters, relevant to this story? Can’t help but feel like you’ve got a huge trolling problem suddenly popping up on your blog, Chris.
Remember there was no police officers. It was a security person if I recall correctly.
He needed a psychologist a long time ago…. and jail time
um……sounds like total BS.
So are we going to see him in court with a neck brace on as well?
the only thing more messed up about his brain is his prior criminal records
b.s.