United Won't Use Police To Pull Paid Passengers From Flights; 'We Can't Do That,' CEO Says

CHICAGO, IL — Continuing to perform damage control after the debacle of a passenger violently pulled from a flight out of Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz told ABC News that law enforcement officers would no longer be used to eject paid passengers from the company's planes. The exec called the incident a "system failure," and said he couldn't initially convey the shame he felt watching the video of a bloodied doctor from Kentucky forcibly removed from United flight 3411 Sunday night by a Chicago Aviation Police officer. Munoz pledged never to let such a situation happen again under his watch.

"We are not going to put a law enforcement official onto a plane … to remove a booked, paid, seated passenger," he said in the interview, which aired on "Good Morning America" on Wednesday. "We can’t do that."

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"It was a system failure," Munoz added. "We have not provided our frontline supervisors and managers and individuals with the proper procedures that would allow them to use their common sense. They all have an incredible amount of common sense, and this issue could have been solved by that. This is on me; I have to fix that, and I think that’s something we can do."

The comments were in stark contrast to those Munoz made immediately following the incident, which helped contribute to United's plunging stock prices. Then, Munoz offered a tepid apology — introducing "re-accommodated to the vernacular — but followed that with an email supporting the United employees involved.

"Our employees followed established procedures for dealing with situations like this," the earlier email stated. "While I deeply regret this situation arose, I also emphatically stand behind all of you, and I want to commend you for continuing to go above and beyond to ensure we fly right."

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.

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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.

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"The family of Dr. Dao wants the world to know that they are very appreciative of the outpouring of prayers, concern and support they have received," Stephen L. Golan, Dao's lawyer, stated in the release. "Currently, they are only focused on Dr. Dao's medical care and treatment."

A Chicago Aviation Police officer was placed on administrative leave for his role in pulling Dao down the plane's aisle. Recently, some city alderman had been pushing to arm the members of the law enforcement agency, which falls under Chicago's Department of Aviation, not the Chicago Police Department. But after Sunday's events, the possibility of a measure allowing airport security officers to carry guns has been seriously hindered if not outright eliminated.

WATCH: United Airlines CEO talks to "Good Morning America" on Wednesday:

United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz in 2016 (photo by Richard Drew | Associated Press)

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