United Airlines is going to Washington D.C. to face even greater scrutiny over the embarrassing saga of a 69-year old man being dragged off one of its planes.
United said on Wednesday that it will testify before a House Transportation Committee looking into the April 9 incident when passenger Dr. David Dao was involuntarily and forcibly removed from a Chicago to Louisville flight.
Justin Harclerode, a spokesman for the House of Representatives panel, told Reuters he did not know when the hearing would take place or who the committee planned to call as witnesses.
Based on United's response, however, it will likely be sometime next month. The airline previously announced it was undergoing a comprehensive review that would be completed by April 30.
United spokeswoman Megan McCarthy told Reuters the airline looked "forward to meeting with the committee and sharing with them the comprehensive review and the customer-focused actions we will communicate next week."
She declined to say who would testify for United.
[READMORE]READ MORE: United Not The Worst When It Comes To Involuntary Bumping [/READMORE]
United already announced changes to policies in place regarding overbooking. During the incident with Dr. Dao, the airline boarded the flight-the last on that Sunday night to Louisville-but then asked for volunteers to exit and be rebooked when it needed four seats to re-position four crew members for assignment.
When nobody volunteered, United randomly selected four to be involuntarily bumped. Dao's refusal led to the violent confrontation with Chicago Aviation Police.
United also has to provide answers to questions from the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee by today, as does the Chicago Department of Aviation.
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