House Transportation And Infrastructure Committee To Examine Airline Consumer Issues

The leadership of the House Transportation And Infrastructure Committee has announced that it will look into the incident in which a passenger was dragged bodily off a United Airlines flight earlier this month. The hearing will focus more broadly on airline consumer issues.

The purpose of the hearing, which has not yet been scheduled, is to "provide Members an opportunity to learn more about consumer issues related to the commercial airline industry," according to a statement posted on the committee website by Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA) and ranking Democrat Peter DeFazio (D-OR)

The hearing was announced less than two weeks after a video captured on the airplane showing Dr. David Dao being dragged off a United flight by Chicago Airport Police went viral on the internet. Dao's attorney says he suffered multiple serious injuries while being dragged down the aisle of the plane.

The Washington Post reports that the incident has been condemned by several elected officials both in Chicago and in Congress. Many have called for answers from agencies ranging from the Chicago Aviation Authority all the way to the Department of Transportation. DOT officials indicated that its Office of Aviation Enforcement and Proceedings has the incident under review, according to the report.

FMI: http://transportation.house.gov