Chicago

United CEO to Testify in Front of Congressional Committee

Munoz's testimony comes after a Kentucky doctor was dragged off a United airplane in Chicago, in a startling incident captured in a viral video that sparked global headlines

United Airlines CEO will testify in front of a congressional committee next week about treatment of passengers on flights, the committee announced. 

Oscar Munoz will join officials from American, Alaska and Southwest Airlines in testifying at an oversight hearing of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

“Next week’s oversight hearing will give Committee Members an opportunity to get much-needed answers about airline customer service policies and what is being done to improve service for the flying public,” said Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pa).

Munoz's testimony comes after a Kentucky doctor was dragged off a United airplane in Chicago, in a startling incident captured in a viral video that sparked global headlines.

The doctor, David Dao, settled with United Airlines for an undisclosed amount.

The Kentucky doctor dragged from a United Express flight at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago suffered a significant concussion, broken nose and lost his two front teeth, attorneys for David Dao said Thursday.Trina Orlando reports.

News of the settlement follows an earlier announcement from United Airlines saying it planned to raise the limit — to $10,000 — on payments to customers who give up seats on oversold flights. The company also said it will increase training for employees as it deals with fallout from the incident. 

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United is also vowing to reduce, but not eliminate, overbooking — the selling of more tickets than there are seats on the plane.

"Mr. Munoz said he was going to do the right thing, and he has," Demetrio said in a statement. "In addition, United has taken full responsibility for what happened on Flight 3411, without attempting to blame others, including the city of Chicago. For this acceptance of corporate accountability, United is to be applauded."

Munoz told NBC News' Lester Holt the situation "was a system failure," explaining that he has made changes at the company because the incident with Dao "should have never happened."

Later Thursday, United released a statement saying it was pleased there had been an "amicable resolution" to the incident.

"We look forward to implementing the improvements we have announced, which will put our customers at the center of everything we do," the statement said.

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The saga surrounding United Express Flight 3411 continued to unfold through this week as new video and audio recordings were released by authorities showing what happened in the moments before and after Dao was dragged off the aircraft earlier this month.

Dao, a physician, was bloodied and dragged off the United Express plane by Chicago airport officers who were summoned by United employees when Dao wouldn't give up his seat. The three officers involved have been suspended.

Dao's lawyer had said in an interview with "Today" Monday morning that he planned to file a lawsuit in the case. Demetrio said the 69-year-old suffered a "significant concussion," a broken nose and lost two front teeth. 

“There’s other video that does show that he’s calmly in his seat," Demetrio told "Today." "His ticket was accepted, scanned, he boarded, he was seat belted and all the video shows him quietly saying, 'I want to go home. I’m not getting off.' And interestingly, you can’t do that. After someone is in their seat that’s not the time to say, 'We’re overbooked or we need to get an employee from point A to point B.'”

Munoz said last week no one would be fired over the incident — including himself. He added that he takes full responsibility "for making this right."

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