The lawyer representing David Dao, the passenger violently dragged off a United Airlines flight April 9, said he is preparing to file a lawsuit against United for using “unreasonable force and violence” against the passenger. Attorney Tom Demetrio said that Dao was discharged April 12 from a hospital, where he was treated for a “significant concussion, serious broken nose and injuries to the sinuses” all suffered during the incident in which Dao was dragged from an aircraft after being involuntarily bumped from United Express flight 3411. Demetrio said he is conducting due diligence ahead of filing a lawsuit, adding there will be a court hearing April 17 in Chicago regarding the preservation of evidence related to the case. United is primarily responsible, he said, but indicated other parties could also be implicated in a lawsuit. <br/>
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United Airlines' pilots broke their silence Thursday on the violent removal of David Dao from Flight 3411. "The safety and well-being of our passengers is the highest priority for United pilots, and this should not have escalated into a violent encounter," United Master Executive Council, the union representing the airline's 12,500 pilots, wrote in a letter. "United pilots are infuriated by this event." At the same time, the pilots wanted to the set record straight on some of the facts surrounding the event. "This occurred on one of our contracted Express carriers, separately owned and operated by Republic Airline, and was ultimately caused by the grossly inappropriate response by the Chicago Department of Aviation," the pilots wrote. <br/>
It's been a rough week for United Airlines. The same day a passenger was infamously dragged off a United plane in Chicago, a man on a United flight from Houston to Calgary was allegedly stung by a scorpion. The venomous creature fell from an overhead bin and landed on Richard Bell as he was eating lunch Sunday in his business class seat. "Our flight attendants helped a customer who was stung by what appeared to be a scorpion on a flight last week," United confirmed. "Our crew immediately consulted with a MedLink physician on the ground who provided guidance throughout the incident and assured our crew that it was not a life-threatening matter." United Airlines said medical personnel met the aircraft when it arrived in Calgary. United has apologised and offered compensation for the incident. <br/>
Lufthansa is due to receive 5 A320neo jets this year, a spokeswoman said Thursday, half the number it originally expected, as delivery delays hamper the Airbus plane. Lufthansa, which was the first airline to operate the A320neo and took delivery of 5 of the jets in 2016, had said at the end of December that it expected 10 of the medium-haul planes this year. A spokeswoman said Lufthansa was now expecting 5 this year, with the next one slated to arrive in the summer. That could affect Lufthansa's capex plans for this year. The airline said in March it expected to spend E2.7b this year. Airbus delivered 12 A320neos in March to bring the 2017 total to 26, but deliveries remain behind schedule due mainly to problems with engines from Pratt & Whitney, one of two suppliers. <br/>
THAI has asked to extend its investigation into the Rolls-Royce bribery scandal involving former executives to the end of this month, Transport minister Arkhom Termpittiyapaisith said. The carrier said it needs until that long to wrap up the probe, which is a few weeks longer than expected, according to Arkom. He said THAI has not provided him with any progress reports. The final report might focus on details about engine procurement for the airline's planes during the periods when the bribery took place, he said. In statements given to Britain's Serious Fraud Office, Rolls-Royce admitted to paying about THB254m to individuals to help it secure a deal with the Thai to purchase Rolls-Royce Trent 800 engines for 6 Boeing 777 aircraft and Trent 500 engines for 7 Airbus A340 aircraft. <br/>