[Psalm 73]

We were talking about this at work, and almost to a man we would all have started swinging as soon as they laid hands on us.

"DONT TREAD ON ME"

[billyboy15]

If what UA did as far as randomly choosing 4 people to exit the aircraft, what do you believe should have been done with the passenger who refused to leave the aircraft?

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Add me to that list.

“I won't be wronged. I won't be insulted. I won't be laid a-hand on. I don't do these things to other people, and I require the same from them.”
- - John Wayne

[Captain Rhino]

Landing the airplane enroute is typically the airline solution these days to in-the-air incidents involving unruly/out-of-control passenger(s). So it is not a far stretch to now expect that policy to be extended to ground operations whether or not security might be available to assist in solving the problem. Once you rule out the use of any kind of force, having the flight cancelled at the gate over a non-compliant passenger becomes the only realistic option left to an airline.

I will hand it to United though, They somehow managed to assemble a flight of @200 random passengers that, to a person, had such urgent business on Monday morning that none of them would accept $800, a free hotel and flight the next day.

Remarkable.

[UB355]

That is stupid without defining what led up to security being called.

[publius911]

We were talking about this at work, and almost to a man we would all have started swinging as soon as they laid hands on us.
"DONT TREAD ON ME"

There, in a nutshell, is the problem. But it's just not anti-social psychotics. It's a panoply of contemporary social developments creating a perfect storm for the flying public.

Bottom line, Mac, just the thought of traveling with you in a metal tube at 540 miles per hour at 36,000 feet is scary beyond belief.

This topic reveals, today, just how many nasty things converged to create the event, and the social morons concentrate on the hapless airline. In order of importance...

Koranimals; specifically, 911.
How much that has cost us so far is in the multiple Trillions. Just how much is never discussed.

Lawyers. The educated clown on TV now defending the psychotic passenger and attacking the Airline is a great example. The ignorant and mentally dull are being persuaded.

Government regulations: Is there a human being that can really understand all the bureaucratic regulations that control flying, written in Klingon?

Booze.
If someone needs booze in order to fly, they should go to Europe on a bicycle. If smokers can go an hour or eighteen without a cigarette (whether they like it or not) the alcoholics can similarly comply.
Booze has no place in a metal tube at 35,000 feet with 300 souls aboard.

Oh yes, there's lots more. If this incident does nothing else, it should clarify the need to define the duties and obligations of both Airlines, and Passengers.

If it takes more than four sentences and a two page glossary of terms, it's not ready for prime time.
i.e. what is "reasonable?" "excessive?" "sane?" "medicated?" "drunk?" "etc.?"

I am not a "frequent flyer." but by no means a flying virgin. I have flown (commercially) in a Ford trimotor, DC-3, a twin 9 passenger over jungle (lost a month later), 747s mostly United and in gentler more civilized times when traveling with an infant provided unexpected special attention. Understanding the complexities of the world airline system, I have nothing but admiration for American Airlines. No airline is, or can be perfect.

Never in all those years have I experienced anything similar to the current non-story. The narrative is being driven by the functionally insane.