Jacksonville’s World Affairs Council will not hear a speech planned for Thursday from United Airlines CEO Oscar Muñoz about "The Changing Global Dynamic of Commercial Aviation."

The World Affairs Council’s website has the word CANCELLED in front of the title of the speech that was set for noon at Jacksonville University’s Davis College of Business.

The cancellation occurred after the public relations and financial firestorm over the forcible removal of a passenger from an overbooked United Express flight. David Dao, a Kentucky physician, was dragged off a plane Sunday evening by airport officers in Chicago. The event, recorded on video, exploded on social media.

The World Affair Council’s executive director and CEO, Trina Medarev, said her organization learned Wednesday morning that Muñoz would need to cancel due to "unfolding events."

United spokeswoman Megan McCarthy said, "While Oscar very much looked forward to attending on Thursday, his attention is needed elsewhere as United conducts a thorough review of the events that transpired on Flight 3411. We have expressed our regrets to the World Affairs Council."

Also Wednesday, a Chicago alderman said representatives from United and the city’s Aviation Department have been summoned before a city council committee to answer questions about the confrontation at O’Hare Airport.

Alderman Mike Zalewski said he did not know who will represent the airline before the Aviation Committee, but Muñoz has been notified of the hearing scheduled for Thursday.

Muñoz has so far made at least four statements about the incident.

In a statement issued Tuesday, Muñoz called the incident a "truly horrific event." He apologized "for what happened" and said "I deeply apologize to the customer forcibly removed and to all the customers aboard. No one should ever be mistreated this way."

On Wednesday morning, Muñoz underlined his remorse in an interview with ABC’s "Good Morning America," saying he felt "ashamed" when he saw the videos.

"That is not who our family at United [Airlines] is," he said. "This will never happen again on a United flight. That’s my promise."

Muñoz said the company would reassess policies for seeking volunteers to give up their seats, for handling oversold situations and for partnering with airport authorities and local law enforcement.

The passenger was identified as Dao, a 69-year-old physician from Elizabethtown, Ky.

Stephen L. Golan, who represents Dao, said his client was being treated at a Chicago hospital for injuries he sustained on the plane and that the family would not comment except to say they "want the world to know that they are very appreciative of the outpouring of prayers, concern and support they have received."

Muñoz has ties to Jacksonville. He was a top executive with Jacksonville-based CSX Corp. from 2003 until 2015, when he departed for United, where he has been on the board since 2004. He was appointed to the board of governors at the University of North Florida in 2010 and then reappointed to a term ending January 2020.

This report contains material from The Associated Press.

Clay Zeigler: (904) 359-4513