There seem to be no end in sight to controversies surrounding United Airlines. Just a week after dragging off a passenger in an overbooked flight, the airline is under fire for an almost similar incident.
On Saturday, the airline reportedly kicked a bride and a groom heading to Costa Rica for their weeding off a plane.
Michael Hohl and his fiancée Amber Maxwell, together with their friends were flying from Salt Lake City and had a layover at George Bush International Airport.
According to Hohl, they noticed a man was spread across their row napping when they approached their seats 24B and C and, not wanting to wake him up, they decided to sit three rows up on seats 21B and C.
“We thought it was not a big deal. It is not like we were jumping into first class seats. We were simply in an economy row a few rows above out place,” Michael Hohl is quoted by Mashable.com as saying.
He noted that a flight attendant approached them and after their explanation, they were asked to return to their seats which they did, only for a US Marshal to come in and ask them to get off.
“They said we were being disorderly and a hazard to the rest of the flight, to the safety of other customers.”
United Airlines spokeswoman Maggie Schmerin however gave a different version of the events saying the couple had moved to Economic Plus section which costs extra and refused to pay the extra charges despite being offered the chance.
“They were asked to leave the plane by our staff and complied. No air Marshall or authority was involved,” she said.
Maggie further stated that the couple was offered a discounted hotel stay for Saturday evening and rebooked on a flight Sunday morning. The wedding was planned for Thursday April 20, 2017.
In last week’s incident, the passenger was forcibly removed from the airline to give room for the airline staff since the plane was overbooked. He sustained injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment.
The incident saw the airline’s shares drop by 4.3 per cent to $64.47 a share by close of business last Tuesday.
United has since apologised for the incident.
The airline has also been summoned to appear before Congress over the matter.
