Chicago Aviation Security Overhaul after Man Dragged off United Flight

Chicago Aviation Security Overhaul after Man Dragged off United Flight

Chicago is overhauling their aviation security protocols after the viral incident involving an overbooked United flight.

Chicago is working to overhaul its security protocols after United Airlines asked to have a man removed from a flight. In the viral videos that followed, a man could be seen being forcefully removed from his seat and dragged down the aisle of the plane while passengers were visibly upset by the actions of O’Hara International Airports security team.

The airline realized, only after the plane had been fully boarded, that they needed to remove four passengers to make room for staff members that needed to arrive at the plane’s destination. When there were no volunteer passengers, United took it upon themselves to choose which passengers would need to get up from their seat.

Passenger David Dao was asked to give up his seat, but refused. That’s when United called in O’Hara International Airport security. It was the moments that followed that were captured on video and made viral all over the world.

Due to Dao’s refusal to get out of his seat, the security team decided to forcefully remove him from the chair and drag him off the flight. In doing so, they bloodied and wounded the man. It was determined at a later date that Dao had sustained injuries to his head, including a concussion, broken nose and loss of two front teeth.

Thee officers and a supervision involved in the incident were suspended after the city’s aviation department determined that they broke apart from standard procedures and failed to provide the respect that travelers deserve.

While the city continues to investigate the incident, the aviation department has outlined the steps it has taken to prevent a similar confrontation in the future:

  • Neither Chicago police nor aviation security officers will be called to an aircraft for customer-service matters such as overbooking.
  • Aviation security officers won’t board an aircraft unless there is an immediate medical emergency or physical threat. Chicago police will take the lead on disturbances aboard an aircraft.
  • The department is hiring an international aviation security expert to conduct a comprehensive review of the security program currently in place at O’Hara International Airport to ensure best practices.

Featured

  • Report: 47 Percent of Security Service Providers Are Not Yet Using AI or Automation Tools

    Trackforce, a provider of security workforce management platforms, today announced the launch of its 2025 Physical Security Operations Benchmark Report, an industry-first study that benchmarks both private security service providers and corporate security teams side by side. Based on a survey of over 300 security professionals across the globe, the report provides a comprehensive look at the state of physical security operations. Read Now

    • Guard Services
  • Identity Governance at the Crossroads of Complexity and Scale

    Modern enterprises are grappling with an increasing number of identities, both human and machine, across an ever-growing number of systems. They must also deal with increased operational demands, including faster onboarding, more scalable models, and tighter security enforcement. Navigating these ever-growing challenges with speed and accuracy requires a new approach to identity governance that is built for the future enterprise. Read Now

  • Eagle Eye Networks Launches AI Camera Gun Detection

    Eagle Eye Networks, a provider of cloud video surveillance, recently introduced Eagle Eye Gun Detection, a new layer of protection for schools and businesses that works with existing security cameras and infrastructure. Eagle Eye Networks is the first to build gun detection into its platform. Read Now

  • Report: AI is Supercharging Old-School Cybercriminal Tactics

    AI isn’t just transforming how we work. It’s reshaping how cybercriminals attack, with threat actors exploiting AI to mass produce malicious code loaders, steal browser credentials and accelerate cloud attacks, according to a new report from Elastic. Read Now

  • Pragmatism, Productivity, and the Push for Accountability in 2025-2026

    Every year, the security industry debates whether artificial intelligence is a disruption, an enabler, or a distraction. By 2025, that conversation matured, where AI became a working dimension in physical identity and access management (PIAM) programs. Observations from 2025 highlight this turning point in AI’s role in access control and define how security leaders are being distinguished based on how they apply it. Read Now

New Products

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.

  • Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file.

  • 4K Video Decoder

    3xLOGIC’s VH-DECODER-4K is perfect for use in organizations of all sizes in diverse vertical sectors such as retail, leisure and hospitality, education and commercial premises.