Senate panel sets hearing on airline travel

The Senate Commerce subcommittee on aviation will hold hearing next month on consumer protection in airline travel in the wake of the controversy over a United Airlines customer being dragged off a plane earlier this month.

Top lawmakers on the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee earlier this month sent letters to United and the Chicago Department of Aviation after United forcibly removed a passenger to make room for airline employees at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport. The hearing is set for May 4.

The passenger, Kentucky doctor David Dao, reportedly refused to give up his seat on a flight to Louisville. Chicago Aviation Department officers then grabbed Dao and violently dragged him from the aircraft. 

{mosads}Dao, 69, sustained a concussion, a broken nose and lost two teeth in the confrontation, according to his lawyer. United reached a settlement with Dao for an undisclosed amount, Dao’s attorneys said Thursday.

Since then, United has said that it will limit the use of law enforcement to remove passengers from flights and vowed to change its overbooking policies, which can sometimes leave passengers without seats. The airline also said that it is willing to offer passengers up to $10,000 to voluntarily give up their seats on overbooked flights.

Southwest Airlines on Thursday announced that it would no longer overbook flights.