David Dao, the 69-year-old Kentucky doctor who was dragged from an overbooked United Airlines flight Sunday, told WLKY he is recovering in a Chicago hospital.
When asked what his injuries were, Dao told WLKY “everything” and that he was not doing well.
“The family of Dr. Dao wants the world to know that they are very appreciative of the outpouring of prayers, concern, and support they have received,” the family’s attorney Stephen Golan said in a statement. “Currently, they are focused only on Dr. Dao’s medical care and treatment.”
Dao’s injuries incurred after United asked passengers to volunteer to give up their seats for crew members on a flight out of Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. When no one volunteered, Dao was randomly picked from a computer but refused to go, saying he was a doctor and had patients to see. Video of Dao being forcibly removed from the flight by airport police has gone viral, leading to an uproar over the controversial handling of the situation.
In one video you can see Dao’s entire face covered in blood, having been hit on impact before being dragged off. Ten minutes after being escorted off the plane, Dao was seen running back onboard.
In a statement Tuesday—his third since Monday—United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz called the incident “truly horrific,” telling employees, “No one should ever be mistreated this way.” After previous attempts at lesser apologies, Munoz said he’s committed to fixing the situation by reviewing the company’s policies for seeking volunteers to give up their seats, handling oversold flights, and partnering with airport officials. The results of the review are said to be released by April 30.
According to Aviation Department spokeswoman Karen Pride, a Chicago Aviation Department police officer is on paid leave “pending a thorough review of the situation” for not following standard operating procedure during the incident.