Aviation Expert Defends United: Passenger Didn't Have Right To Stay On Plane

CHICAGO, IL — Atlhough many people might not agree with it, the actions taken by United Airlines to forcibly remove a passenger who refused to be bumped from an overbooked Chicago-to-Louisville flight were not out of line, according to a Chicago aviation expert. Joe Schwieterman, a transportation professor at DePaul University, told The Associated Press that the airline appeared to take the proper steps required by federal law when it comes bumping travelers and handled the situation as well as it could. The passenger — Dr. David Dao of Kentucky — was among four people randomly selected on United flight 3411 to give up their seats for airline employees Sunday night. Video footage of Dao being violently dragged from his seat spread online Monday, creating a swell of outrage directed at United.

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"The passenger did not have the right to stay on the airplane," Schwieterman said in an AP video interview (watch the full interview below). "Airlines have the right to bump people with compensation. The captain's word goes. You have to respond to that and this passenger seemed to feel that somehow he had an uncompromised right to have that seat, and of course, we know that's not the case."

If anything, United — its reputation and its bottom line — is suffering for how both the passenger and the Chicago Aviation Police police officers who removed him reacted in the incident, according to Schwieterman.

"United was in an impossible spot," he said. "It either takes blame for something, to a large extent, was out of its control when airport security took over. Or it could have thrown airport security under the bus and said the fault lies with them. That would have looked bad too. I think they struck a compromise that showed they sincerely regret the pain and suffering that both the passenger and fellow travelers felt during that incident. But boy, maybe it's not enough to quell what the public's demanding right now."

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United Airline's Image Takes Online Beating In Memes, Comments: Social media reaction to video footage of a passenger being dragged from a full flight Sunday night has been swift and merciless.

Flight Fiasco: CEO Apologizes Again, Vows To 'Fix What's Broken': PLUS: United Stock plummets | Doctor dragged from plane has past drug convictions | No guns for aviation cops: Chicago alderman.

So far, it hasn't been. United's stock took a hit Tuesday, ending at 1.1 percent down after trading and losing $255 million of its $22.5 billion market capitalization. CEO Oscar Munoz also issued a second apology Tuesday, vowing to "fix what's broken" after the incident.

WATCH: Check out the full AP interview with Chicago aviation expert Joe Schwieterman concerning United Airlines' flight fiasco:

DePaul University transportation professor Joe Schwieterman (screen shot via video by The Associated Press)

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