New United Video Emerges Of The Moments Before Officers Dragged Doctor From Plane

After authorities violently dragged a doctor off a United Airlines flight to free up his seat for an employee, the company CEO called David Dao “disruptive and belligerent.” But newly released video of the incident doesn’t appear to support the company’s argument.

“I’m a physician,” he can be heard saying. “I have to work tomorrow at 8 o’clock.”

He then made it clear that he was not going to give up his seat.

“No, I am not going. I am not going,” he said.

By this time, one of the officers then tells him they will use force to get him off if needed.

“Let them try to use force,” he emphatically replied. “I make a lawsuit against United Airlines.”

Dr. Dao continued to say he would not leave the plane, even as an officer told him he could go to jail.

And that was when all hell broke loose and the officers began to forcefully remove him from the plane. Dr. Dao was knocked unconscious when his head apparently hit an armrest and was dragged down the aisle of the plane.

The incident occurred Sunday after United asked volunteers to give up their seats on a flight from Chicago to Louisville, Kentucky, and then resorted to choosing people to be bumped off the plane involuntarily.

Dao refused to give up his already-purchased seat, and footage of him being dragged down the aisle by security went viral this week. United CEO Oscar Munoz apologized for having to “re-accomodate these customers.” Dao says he is still recovering in a hospital.

“He just wanted to go home, had to work the next day and did not feel it was right to have to give up his seat, a seat he was already sitting in upon the plane,” Cummings, who took the new video, said in a Facebook post. “I was not concerned for my safety, nor that of my toddler’s or for my pregnancy until the police were called aboard our plane to remove him. I was worried about what a physical altercation would entail with us sitting directly behind him and if the officers were armed in a tiny, confined space.”

h/t:huffingtonpost and insideedition