Q&A on the News
Q: How did Dr. David Dao sustain his injuries in being removed from the United Express flight? Did the security officers beat him or throw him against an armrest?
—Tony Gardner, Cumming
A: According to an incident report filed by the Chicago Department of Aviation officers who forced Dao off United Airlines Flight 3411, the injury occurred when one officer, James Long, tried to move Dao from his seat. The reports were obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request and posted online April 24 by media outlets such as the Los Angeles Times and Washington Post.
The report stated that Long grabbed Dao and pulled him from his seat toward the aisle. At this point, the report stated, Dao “started flailing his arms and then started to fight with Officer Long,” causing Long to lose his grip and control of Dao. The report also noted that Dao consequentially “fell and hit his mouth on the armrest across from him, which caused an injury to his mouth.”
In one of the videos that circulated after the April 9 incident, Dao’s face appears to make contact with the armrest across the aisle from his original seat as he is pulled from it.
Thomas A. Demetrio, Dao’s lawyer, said during a press conference on April 13 that Dao is missing two teeth, suffered a concussion and broken nose, and may require reconstructive surgery for his sinuses.
Fast Copy News Service wrote this column; Katie Tiller contributed. Do you have a question? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
