Disruptive Passengers Kicked Off Separate Chicago-Bound Flights Memorial Day Weekend

CHICAGO, IL — Passengers who were allegedly intoxicated while traveling on two different airlines were kicked off their Chicago-bound flights in separate, unrelated incidents during the Memorial Day weekend, according to reports. A "belligerent" man was removed Friday from his United Airlines plane flying from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to O'Hare International Airport, ABC 7 Eyewitness News reports. A few days later, an "unruly" traveler was asked to exit Monday a Southwest Airlines flight from Las Vegas to Midway Airport, according to NBC 5 Chicago.

In the first incident Friday, May 26, a United flight crew restrained a man, 39, because of his "erratic behavior" as the plane landed at its O'Hare gate at around 6 p.m., ABC 7 reports. Police were contacted before reaching the gate, and officers escorted the man, who was allegedly drunken and medicated, off flight 841, the report added. (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news for Chicago — or your neighborhood. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.)

The passenger — who left the plane voluntarily, according to an airline spokeswoman — was taken to Presence Resurrection Medical Center for treatment, the report stated. United did not give details about the man's behavior aboard the flight, nor did the Chicago-based carrier explain what he was being treated for at the hospital, the report added. No charges were pending against the passenger, according to the TV station.

Last month, United Airlines said it would no longer use law enforcement officers to remove paid passengers from flights unless there were safety or security concerns. The new policy was in response to a United customer — Dr. David Dao from Kentucky — being violently dragged from an April 9 flight out of O'Hare. Dao was one of four people randomly chosen to be bumped from a Chicago-to-Louisville flight so that airline employees could fly. He refused to give up his seat because he had patients he needed to see the next day.

Dao suffered a concussion, broken nose and other injuries after Chicago Aviation Police forcibly removed him from the plane. The doctor and the airline eventually reached an "amicable" settlement, the terms of which are confidential.

Patch's United Flight 3411 Coverage:

United Airlines CEO Re-Elected To Board As Airport Workers Protest Annual Meeting: Airline exec Oscar Munoz called last month's violent dragging of a passenger from his seat "a watershed moment" for the company Wednesday.

United Passenger, Airline Reach Confidential Settlement In Dragging Incident: VIDEO: The deal comes the same day as the Chicago-based company released its report on the events aboard flight 3411.

Passenger Was 'Aggressive'; Aviation Cops Used 'Minimal But Necessary Force': Incident Report: Records concerning the events of flight 3411 claim Dr. David Dao was combative with officers before being removed from the plane.

Chicago Lawyer In Passenger-Dragging Will Represent American Airlines Customer: Attorney Thomas Demetrio said both incidents illustrate the unfair treament customers receveive from airlines during a TV interview Monday.

Passenger Dragged From Flight Suffered Concussion, Broken Nose: VIDEO: A lawsuit likely after United forced a doctor off the plane to "re-accommodate" him so an airline employee could take his seat.

United'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.

In the second incident, which happened Memorial Day in Las Vegas McCarran International Airport, police helped the crew aboard Southwest Airlines flight 3630 with a man who was acting "unruly" before the plane was to take off Monday, May 29, on its way to Midway in Chicago, NBC 5 reports. A statement from the carrier said the passenger appeared to be intoxicated when he became disruptive, the report added.

The airline did not give details concerning the aftermath of the passenger's removal from the plane in Las Vegas, according to the report.

More via ABC 7 Eyewitness News and NBC 5 Chicago

Photo via Chicago Department of Aviation | Patch archive

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