Crime & Public Safety
Crime & Public Safety

Merriam-Webster trolls United, defines 'volunteer' after harrowing video goes viral

VIDEO: Passenger Removed From United Airlines Flight
By Jennifer Brett, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
April 12, 2017

The internet’s had jokes since shortly after a video emerged showing a dazed and bloodied passenger being dragged screaming from a United Airlines flight.

Explore>> Twitter users respond to United Airlines fiasco, suggest mock company slogans
ExploreNow even the dictionary’s joining in.
Explore>> See the tweet here

It’s hard to miss Merriam-Webster’s meaning in choosing to highlight the definition of “volunteer,” a word United used (in addition to “re-accommodate”) in its initial corporate responses.

Explore>> Man forcibly removed from flight after not voluntarily giving up seat on flight

Why Passengers Get Bumped and What They Can Get For it

Other Twitter commentary has been a little more blunt:

This Sunday, April 9, 2017, image made from a video provided by Audra D. Bridges shows a passenger being removed from a United Airlines flight in Chicago. Video of police officers dragging the passenger from an overbooked United Airlines flight sparked an uproar Monday on social media, and a spokesman for the airline insisted that employees had no choice but to contact authorities to remove the man. (Audra D. Bridges via AP)
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About the Author

Jennifer Brett, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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