JUST when we thought things were bad enough for United Airlines, things got even worse.
The Chicago-based carrier has faced explosive backlash after it forced a passenger to put her beloved dog in the overhead compartment of a plane during a flight from Houston to New York City, leading to the dog’s death.
While horrified members of the public declare on social media they’ll never fly with United again in the wake of the tragedy — and as investigators discuss possible criminal charges following the incident — this is just the latest in a long list of scandals involving the embattled airline.
United’s recent run of PR fiascos began a year ago, when a 69-year-old doctor, David Dao, was dramatically dragged off a United flight, bleeding, after being told to give up his seat for airline staff.
After that, there seemed to be an endless parade of jaw-dropping United scandals: animal deaths, passengers kicked off planes, a child booted from his own seat.
Almost every time, passengers armed with cameras were quick to document the drama as it unfolded. Social media erupted in a flurry of outrage, and the airline was in full-tilt damage control.
United, the world’s third largest airline in terms of revenue and fourth-largest in terms of passengers carried, is considered a safe airline, with a 7/7 safety rating by trusted aviation source Airline Ratings. United suffered a $1.3 billion drop in market value of 2017.
Now, as it faces one of its most shocking incidents yet, here’s a look back at United Airlines’s outrageously bad year.
DEATH OF DOG IN OVERHEAD BIN
The world reacted with horror after a passenger on a United flight from Houston to New York City said a pet dog died after it was forced to travel in the plane’s overhead compartment.
The french bulldog’s devastated owner was reportedly made to do so by a flight attendant.
The incident has made global headlines and sparked an extraordinary backlash against United Airlines on social media.