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

  • Gaining a Competitive Edge

    Ask most companies about their future technology plans and the answers will most likely include AI. Then ask how they plan to deploy it, and that is where the responses may start to vary. Every company has unique surveillance requirements that are based on market focus, scale, scope, risk tolerance, geographic area and, of course, budget. Those factors all play a role in deciding how to configure a surveillance system, and how to effectively implement technologies like AI. Read Now

  • 6 Ways Security Awareness Training Empowers Human Risk Management

    Organizations are realizing that their greatest vulnerability often comes from within – their own people. Human error remains a significant factor in cybersecurity breaches, making it imperative for organizations to address human risk effectively. As a result, security awareness training (SAT) has emerged as a cornerstone in this endeavor because it offers a multifaceted approach to managing human risk. Read Now

  • The Stage is Set

    The security industry spans the entire globe, with manufacturers, developers and suppliers on every continent (well, almost—sorry, Antarctica). That means when regulations pop up in one area, they often have a ripple effect that impacts the entire supply chain. Recent data privacy regulations like GDPR in Europe and CPRA in California made waves when they first went into effect, forcing businesses to change the way they approach data collection and storage to continue operating in those markets. Even highly specific regulations like the U.S.’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) can have international reverberations – and this growing volume of legislation has continued to affect global supply chains in a variety of different ways. Read Now

  • Access Control Technology

    As we move swiftly toward the end of 2024, the security industry is looking at the trends in play, what might be on the horizon, and how they will impact business opportunities and projections. Read Now

Featured Cybersecurity

Webinars

New Products

  • 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. 3

  • Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden Door Controls has relaunched its CV-7600 card readers in response to growing market demand for a more secure alternative to standard proximity credentials that can be easily cloned. CV-7600 readers support MIFARE DESFire EV1 & EV2 encryption technology credentials, making them virtually clone-proof and highly secure. 3

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities 3