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United faces social media backlash over brutal treatment of passenger

'Didn't they realise the flight was full before boarding'? 'How could they treat a man like that'? 'Who would've thought United management was scarier than snakes on a plane'?

‘Didn’t they realise the flight was full before boarding’? ‘How could they treat a man like that’? ‘Who would’ve thought United management was scarier than snakes on a plane’?

Social media is full of questions today over a viral video in which a doctor is yanked from his seat by police officers and literally dragged off a United Airlines aircraft.

The shocking 30-second clip, uploaded to Facebook by fellow passenger Audra D. Bridges, opens with three officers leaning into a row of seats and pulling a man from his assigned position.

United

The brutal force of the three men sends the passenger flying face-first into arm rests before his body is hauled down the aisle.

Stunned passengers can be heard telling authorities that their behaviour “isn’t right” before shouting “oh my gosh, look at what you did to him” upon seeing the doctor’s disheveled appearance. Watch the video below:

In Bridges’ post, she said that the man was randomly selected to leave the aircraft because the flight was overbooked.

The medical professional told staff he didn’t want to leave because he was required to be at the hospital in the morning. Despite his pleas, authorities were still called on board to handle the situation.

“They randomly selected people to kick off so their crew could have a seat.”

Audra D. Bridges, United Passenger

“We are all shaky and so disgusted.”

United’s Chief Executive Oscar Munoz has responded to the video in a Facebook update, describing the incident as an “upsetting event”.

The carrier’s boss apologised for “having to re-accommodate these customers” and added that the team is “moving with a sense of urgency to work with the authorities and conduct our own detailed review of what happened”.

“We are also reaching out to this passenger to talk directly to him and further address and resole this situation.”

Oscar Munoz, United Airlines Chief Executive

People have taken to social media to comment on the situation, with many shaming the airline for the brutal treatment of their passenger.

One user said the carrier “went above and beyond unbelievable today”:

Another said he believes United is trying to take out the title as “the most hated company in the US”:

https://twitter.com/Peterspeak/status/851583721341898752

Don called for officers to be charged with crime:

https://twitter.com/De_sack/status/851583720507277312

Kylie is urged the man in the clip to sue the airline:

As Brandon assured the carrier he would never fly with them again:

Mike wondered how United management could be more frightening than snakes on a plane:

And then there were a few users like Jason who merged the viral United video with the recent Pepsi blunder (which involved model Kendall Jenner solving world peace by simply offering authorities a can of Pepsi):

Have you seen or experienced something similar on a flight? Share your story with us below.