Canada forbids removing passengers from overbooked airplanes

The Canadian government announced Thursday that it will never tolerate all airlines operating in Canada to forcibly remove passengers from overbooked planes.

In a letter issued Thursday to the heads of all airlines that fly in and out of the country, Canadian Transport Minister Marc Garneau warned that an incident like the one injuring a passenger aboard United Airlines earlier this week is not allowed to happen in Canada.

"I am sure that you were as disturbed as I was, and as all Canadians were, over the appalling incident that took place onboard a United flight earlier this week, when a passenger was forcibly removed from his seat," he wrote.

"I am writing to you today to convey that such an incident would be unacceptable in Canada."

The warning goes out not just to Canadian airlines such as Air Canada and WestJet, but also to all international airlines that fly in and out of the country.

The minister's letter comes five days after a passenger named David Dao, 69, was dragged off an overbooked United flight in Chicago on Sunday after refusing to leave his seat to accommodate airline crew members.

Dao was seriously wounded by security officers who forced him off the plane against his will, banging his head on armrests in the process.

The minister's warning comes ahead of expected legislation to introduce a passengers' bill of rights in Canada.

The legislation, expected this spring, is to outline what passengers can expect from airlines in situations such as bumping from overbooked planes or for lost or damaged luggage. Endit