Chicago aviation chief says airport security officers violate city procedures

Chicago Aviation Commissioner Ginger Evans on Thursday told a Senate hearing that her department had completed a review of the notorious United dragging incident and that security officers violated city procedures.

Evans' comments came during testimony before the Senate Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety and Security. It was the second of two Capitol Hill hearings held this week examining the circumstances that led to passenger David Dao's violent removal from the United Airlines flight.

"The security officers involved in the incident on United Flight 3411 broke from our standard procedures and failed to provide Dr. Dao and his family with the respect we demand be given to all of the traveling public flying in and out of Chicago," Evans said. "These actions are not condoned by the Chicago Department of Aviation."

Four aviation security officers have been placed on leave in connection with the April 9 incident. Chicago's Office of the Inspector General is also conducting a separate probe.

Republican Sen. Roy Blunt, who chairs the Subcommittee on Aviation Operation, Safety, and Security, said Congress wanted "to find out what went wrong and what we are going to do to be sure it doesn't happen in the future."

Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson said Congress "isn't just going to sit back and take a wait-and-see approach."He and Blunt said Congress may address passenger protections when it takes up a bill to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration.

Last month, the 69-year-old Asian-American physician was violently removed from an overbooked United Airlines flight by security officers to make room for crew members at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago after refusing to give up his seat as requested. Endit