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Man Violently Dragged Off Plane After United Airlines Overbooks Flight

Man Violently Dragged Off Plane After United Airlines Overbooks Flight

Several disturbing videos posted to social media Sunday show a man being violently dragged off a United Airlines plane out of Chicago after the company overbooked the flight.

Video posted to social media shows the man screaming as security personnel pry him out of his chair, causing his head to bash against an armrest. He's then dragged down the aisle on his back as horrified witnesses film on their phones and scream out in disgust.

"My God, what are you doing? No, this is wrong!" one woman cries as she watches the man being dragged past her feet. "Oh my God look at what you did to him! Oh my God!"

Someone else describes the man as having "busted his lip."

Audra D. Bridges, who posted a video of the encounter to Facebook, told The Courier-Journal that airline staff were looking for one volunteer to give up a seat before the flight to Louisville, Kentucky, boarded. Passengers were offered $400 and a hotel stay.

After the flight boarded, staff announced that they needed four people to volunteer to give up seats so that United employees who needed to be in Louisville Monday could take them. The amount was increased to $800, she said, and passengers were told the plane wouldn't leave until four people volunteered.

When nobody offered, staff announced a computer would select four people. One couple cooperated and left. The man in the video was also selected.

One Twitter user who also posted video of the dramatic ordeal said the airline sought four volunteers "for personnel that needed to be at work the next day."

In the videos, an upset woman is heard suggesting that the pilots rent a car and drive to Louisville instead.