'Infuriated' United pilots union slams cops for forcibly dragging passenger from plane

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/>