David Dao Settles With United Airlines After Being Forcibly Removed From Plane

The passenger forcibly removed from a United Airlines flight April 9 officially reached a settlement with the company, his lawyers reported Thursday. David Dao’s attorneys, of Chicago-based Corboy & Demetrio, called the agreement “amicable."

“Mr. Munoz said he was going to do the right thing, and he has,” one of Dao’s lawyers, Thomas Demetrio, said in a statement released Thursday. “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.”

The settlement was for an undisclosed amount, but it's likely Dao received a hefty sum.

“Dr. Dao will likely get millions here,” James Goodnow, an attorney with the Lamber-Goodnow Injury Law Team at Fennemore Craig, who is licensed in Chicago, told International Business Times in an interview earlier in April. “The only question is how many zeros will follow the first number.”

Dao and United Airlines captured the public’s attention after video emerged of the 69-year-old being forcibly removed, bloody and screaming, from an overbooked flight April 9. United Airlines said it randomly selected Dao, along with three other passengers, to vacate the plane after no volunteers opted to give up their seats for four airline employees who needed to board the flight.

United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz said the company was reviewing its policies to ensure no other passengers would be subjected to such situations, he told the Senate Commerce Science, and Transportation Committee in a letter Wednesday.

“Dr. Dao has become the unintended champion for the adoption of changes which will certainly help improve the lives of literally millions of travelers,” Demetrio said. “I sincerely hope that all other airlines make similar changes and follow United’s lead in helping to improve the passenger flying experience with an emphasis on empathy, patience, respect and dignity.”