United Flight 3411: 2 More Chicago Aviation Cops Suspended

CHICAGO, IL — Two more Chicago Aviation Police officers were suspended Wednesday for their roles in violently pulling a passenger off a United Airlines flight traveling from Chicago to Louisville on Sunday, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. One officer already had been placed on administrative leave Monday by Chicago's Department of Aviation, which oversees the airport police, after video of the incident at O'Hare International Airport spread online earlier this week, sparking a firestorm of outrage.

SIGN UP: Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news for Chicago — or your neighborhood. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.

A spokeswoman for the aviation department told the Sun-Times that officials are continuing to review the incident. The names of the officers cannot be released under the terms of employees' collective bargaining agreement with the department, the report added.

Dr. David Dao was one of four people randomly chosen to be bumped Sunday, April 9, from United flight 3411 so that airline employees could fly. A statement released Tuesday by the doctor's Chicago attorney on his client's behalf said Dao still was being treated at a hospital in the city, and he wouldn't be making further comments until after his release. He has a press conference scheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday, April 13.

Flight 3411 Passengers To Get Refunds

The passengers aboard Sunday's now-infamous United flight will be given a refund, according to the carrier. The move is another attempt by the airline to repair its image. Earlier Wednesday, United CEO Oscar Munoz spoke with ABC News to discuss the incident and said law enforcement officers will no longer be used to remove paid passengers who have already boarded flights.

"All customers on flight 3411 from Sunday, April 9, are receiving compensation for the cost of their tickets," a United representative wrote in an email to Patch on Wednesday.

Dr. David Dao was one of four people randomly chosen to be bumped Sunday, April 9, from a Chicago-to-Louisville flight so that airline employees could fly. A statement released Tuesday by the doctor's Chicago attorney on his client's behalf said Dao still was being treated at a hospital in the city, and he wouldn't be making further comments until after his release.

Passenger's Lawyers Want Court Order To Save Evidence

The Chicago legal team representing Dao is requesting a court order that would preserve any possible evidence from Sunday's flight and incident, including airport security camera video, cockpit recordings, passenger lists and personnel files from the Chicago Department of Aviation, which employs the Chicago Aviation Police, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The aviation police were responsible for removing Dao from the plane, and three officers were placed on administrative leave for their roles in the situation.

Patch's United Flight 3411 Coverage:

United Won't Use Police To Pull Paid Passengers From Flights, Airline CEO Says: VIDEO: United CEO Oscar Munoz called Sunday's incident on a flight out of Chicago a "system failure" during an ABC News interview.

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.

Aviation Expert Defends United: Passenger Didn't Have Right To Stay On Plane: VIDEO: The airline was in "an impossible spot" and handled the situation as best it could, a DePaul transportation professor says.

Lawyers from the firm of Corboy & Demetrio filed the court order petition in Cook County on Wednesday, the Sun-Times reports. A press conference is scheduled for Thursday to discuss that legal action, the report added.

Rep. Schakowsky Wants To Stop Airline Bumping

Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-9th District) announced Wednesday she will introduce a bill that would prohibit airlines from bumping passengers from overbooked flights when Congress is back in session. While she's optimistic that United Airlines will enact policy changes in the incident's aftermath, Schakowsky says she wants to enact measures that apply to all carriers and are not voluntary.

"If an airline chooses to oversell a flight, or has to accommodate their crew on a fully booked flight, it is their responsibility to keep raising their offer until a customer chooses to give up their seat," the congreswoman stated in a release Wednesday. "My legislation will direct the Department of Transportation to update federal rules to make sure that is the case. It will also ensure that all negotiations with passengers willing to give up their seats are carried out before they board the aircraft. These fixes would prevent the situation we saw on video from ever happening again."

Schakowsky said she intends to "thoroughly review" United's report regarding the incident when it's released. The airline has said it plans to release its assessment of the situation by April 30.

UPDATED (5:59 p.m. Wednesday, April 12)

image via Audra D. Bridges | Facebook

Like What You're Reading? Stay Patched In!

• Like our Crime page on Facebook
• Check out the Events Calendar for what’s going on