
The doctor dragged from an overbooked United Airlines flight says the treatment he received at the hands of 'storm trooper' police officers was more horrifying than when he fled Vietnam during the fall of Saigon.

David Dao's attorney, Thomas Demetrio, revealed that the 69-year-old grandfather had been left with a broken nose, concussion and lost two front teeth as he was forcibly removed from the flight from Chicago to Louisville, Kentucky, on Sunday night.

His daughter, Crystal Dao Pepper, said her father was 'healing right now' and told how 'prayers and support' had come from around the world.

Pepper and Demetrio spoke at a press conference in Chicago and revealed that the scale of his injuries meant Dr Dao was only released from hospital on Wednesday night - and is still to undergo further reconstructive surgery.

Demetrio, who confirmed Dr Dao plans to sue the airline, launched a scathing attack on United, and further wounded its crisis-hit CEO Oscar Munoz, revealing that a claim the company boss had made that it had reached out to the doctor was untrue.

And he also thrust Rahm Emanuel, Chicago's Democratic mayor into the firing line as the City of Chicago employs the unarmed cops used by the airline to drag Dr Dao from the plane.

Scroll down for video

Attorney Thomas Demetrio (pictured) launched into an attack on the airline, while defending Dr David Dao during a press conference in Chicago on Thursday morning

Crystal Pepper (pictured) also spoke to reporters in Chicago on Thursday morning, thanking those from 'around the world' who have supported her father and her family

Attorney Thomas Demetrio launched into an attack on the airline, while defending his client during a press conference in Chicago on Thursday morning.

What happened to my dad should have never happened to any human being under any circumstance. We were horrified, shocked and sickened to see what happened to him and what he had to go through. ‘We hope that in the future nothing like this happens again. Thank you so much again for your support. Crystal Dao Pepper, Dr Dao's daughter

'Here's the law – pure and simple. If you are going to eject a passenger, under no circumstance, can it be done with unreasonable force or violence,' he said.

'If unreasonable force of violence is used the common carrier – United Airlines in this case – is responsible.

'For each of us in this room… we owe each other a reasonable care standard.

'I'm not to be careless and hurt you… but in the world of common carriers, they have the highest duty of care to provide protection and safety to its fare-paying passengers.

'As we all saw on the video - that was not done.

'And I would defy anyone to suggest there was not unreasonable force and violence used to help Dr Dao disembark that plane.'

The lawyer then went onto to describe how his client, who fled Vietnam at the end of the war, had told him he was more fearful on Sunday night than he was when Saigon fell in 1975.

'He told me that he had left Vietnam in 1975 when Saigon fell and he was on a boat and he said he was terrified,' Demetrio said.

'He said that when they were dragging him down the aisle it was more horrifying than what he experience in leaving Vietnam.'

Pepper (pictured) added: 'We were completely horrified and shocked to what happened to my father when we learned of the incident'

Now he's in the firing line too: Democratic Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel is the ultimate boss of the unarmed police officers who dragged Dr Dao from the plane in an incident which left him badly injured. The doctor's attorney said a statement by United that he had tried to strike law enforcement was false

Vietnamese civilians are seen being carried to safety aboard the USS Blue Ridge in April 1975 after an evacuation in Saigon. Demetrio said Dr Dao compared him experience escaping Saigon to being dragged off the United flight

He added the concussion was so severe, Dao did not remember what exactly occurred when he was removed from the flight, including when he got back on the plane.

Demetrio described the three officers as 'storm troopers' and said: 'Were they doing the right thing? No.

'This was not a troubled passenger, a nutjob, this was not a threat to anybody. Should he have been unceremoniously dragged out? No. This is a 69-year-old man – is this really the way we want to treat the aged?'

He went on: 'Just because United is responsible doesn't meant the City of Chicago isn't also responsible. But more than one can be responsible for a single event.'

A focus on the City of Chicago puts Mayor Emanuel, once President Obama's chief of staff, in the line of fire over the United incident for the first time.

The three officers were not named and have been suspended - although initially only one was removed from duty. Chicago city authorities have not revealed if they had any previous disciplinary offenses.

When asked about a statement unearthed by DailyMail.com earlier this week where United stated that Dr Dao had tried to strike the officers, his attorney responded: 'He didn't try to strike anyone. He just wanted to go home.'

Dr Dao and his wife Teresa were on the flight as they returned to their home in Elizabethtown, outside Louisville, after a vacation in California. Dr Dao was ordered off the plane when his name was selected to make way for four United staff members.

Hours before the press conference, another passenger on the plane had told how one of the officers was laughing during the incident.

But the focus of the lawyer's criticism was on United. Also at the press conference was Stephen Golan, a corporate law specialist who is also representing the doctor.

'For a long time airlines, United in particular, have bullied us. They have treated us less than maybe we deserve,' he said.

'I conclude that what, based upon hundreds, literally hundreds, of tales of woe of United that here is what we want as a society: we want fairness in how people treat us, we want respect, and we want dignity.

'That's it. It seems so simple. Forget the law for a second… just treat us with respect, make us feel like you really care.

'I must say I do not believe this is limited to the airline industry. I think corporate America needs to understand we all want to be treated in the same manner they treat their own family members.

'So, our role, going forward will be to just get the facts. And to get them out. We're going to be vocal about the whole subject of what we as a society say passengers are entitled to.

'Are we going to just continue to be treated like cattle - bullied, given rude treatment?

Thomas Demetrio is pictured speaking to reporters in Chicago on Thursday morning about the Dr David Dao incident

Crystal Dao Pepper (middle) leaves a press conference at the Union League Club in downtown Chicago on Thursday morning

WHAT INJURIES DID DR DAVID DAO SUFFER? ' Significant' concussion Broken nose Sinus injury Lost two front teeth Requires 'reconstructive surgery' Advertisement

'We all have enough angst for flying as it is... But don't treat the people who help make you the corporate entity you are like Dr Dao was treated.

He also said a lawsuit will 'probably' be filed against United, and that the airline has not 'reached out' to Dr Dao in the wake of the incident.

Demetrio also spoke about United CEO Oscar Munoz's multiple press conference and apologies since the incident.

'Yesterday Mr Munoz gave an interview, he was asked point blank: 'Did Dr Dao do anything wrong?'' he told the reporters.

'You know what he did? He hesitated. Then he regrouped and said no, Dr Dao did nothing wrong. That no one should have been treated the way Dr Dao was.

Dr David Dao is pictured bleeding from the mouth (left) after he was body slammed by cops and dragged off (right) the overbooked United flight at Chicago O'Hare

'Stating the obvious. But he didn't say it initially. Initially he backed up his people. And that may be part of the problem - it's us versus them.'

Munoz's reputation has been battered by the crisis, the company's share price has fallen and shows no sign of recovery, and he even is facing questions over whether someone was removed from a flight simply to make way for him. His predecessor had to quit because of a corruption investigation.

Demetrio delivered a further blow to his and his company's PR reputation as he raised questions over whether Munoz was telling the truth during an interview on Wednesday with GMA when he claimed to have reached out to the doctor.

Demetrio said that he had not heard from Oscar Munoz or his representatives, neither had the Dao family, and said that when Munoz stated this during an interview, he believed that he 'misspoke'. He declined to use the term lie.

'RESPECT US': DR DAO's LAWYER'S AIRLINE BLAST For a long time airlines, United in particular, have bullied us. They have treated us less than maybe we deserve,' he said. I conclude that what, based upon hundreds, literally hundreds, of tales of woe of United that here is what we want as a society: we want fairness in how people treat us, we want respect, and we want dignity. That's it. It seems so simple. Forget the law for a second… just treat us with respect, make us feel like you really care. I must say I do not believe this is limited to the airline industry. I think corporate America needs to understand we all want to be treated in the same manner they treat their own family members. Hopefully this lawsuit will create an international discussion on how we are going to be treated going forward. We have to figure out, United has to figure out, the airline industry has to figure out. What are we going to do? Maybe airlines need to start expecting the unexpected, but not at the expense – certainly not at the physical expense – of its paying passengers Advertisement

The attorney also acknowledged Dr Dao's past.

He was revealed to be a convicted felon who had obtained prescription drugs illegally, taking some himself, and giving others to a patient half his age in return for gay sex.

His wife had reported him to authorities and he was sentence to five years in prison which was suspended in favor of probation, lost his medical license, was assessed as having control issues and is now only allowed to practice one day a week after anger management therapy, drug testing and polygraphing.

But the attorney said that his client was 69 and had experienced 'bumps in the road' and added that the focus of the law would exclusively be what had happened on the plane.

There had also been claims that Dr Dao's race was an element. So widespread were the claims that when he was initially wrongly identified as Chinese, the story became a sensation in China, and there remain calls for a boycott of United which has lucrative routes to Asia.

But Demetrio dismissed a question suggesting the incident was racially-motivated, saying: 'I do not think this is a matter of race at all. I don't think that's the case at all, what happened to Dr Dao could have happened to any one of us.'

'And we're them. Dr Dao, to his great credit, has come to understand he is the guy. He is the guy to stand up for customers going forward.'

It was also revealed during the press conference that Dr Dao's wife Teresa was told to leave the plane after he was dragged off, his other attorney, Stephen Golan, said. It is unclear why that was the case.

Earlier, Dr Dao's daughter spoke about the horror of seeing her father being physically abused.

Crystal Dao Pepper spoke to reporters in Chicago on Thursday morning, firstly thanking those from 'around the world' who have supported her father and her family in recent days.

'On behalf of my dad and my entire family, we would like to express our gratitude for the huge outpouring of prayers, love and concern we have received,' she said.

'We would also like to thank all the nursing staff, physicians and staff who have taken care of my dad.

'It has been a very difficult time for my entire family, we are truly grateful for your support.'

She added: 'We were completely horrified and shocked to what happened to my father when we learned of the incident.

'Seeing it on video made those emotions exacerbated. We hope in the future nothing like this happens again.'

Chicago city, which Demetrio said had also not contacted the attorneys and family, is also potentially involved in any lawsuit as the airport police who removed Dao from the plane are employed by the city.

Video has emerged showing Dr David Dao arguing with police and a flight attendant just moments before he was dragged off an overbooked United flight in Chicago on Sunday night

Dr David Dao is the man who was dragged from a United flight in Chicago on Sunday. He is pictured with his wife, Teresa, and their grandchildren

Chicago's Aviation Department said on Wednesday that two more officers had been placed on leave in connection with the incident. One officer was placed on leave on Tuesday.

CRYSTAL DAO PEPPER'S STATEMENT On behalf of my dad and my entire family, we would like to express our gratitude for the huge outpouring of prayers, love and concern we have received from all over the world these past few days. We would also like to thank all the nursing staff, physicians and staff who have taken care of my dad. It has been a very difficult time for my entire family, we are truly grateful for your support. What happened to my dad should never happen to a human regardless of circumstance. We were completely horrified and shocked to what happened to my father when we learned of the incident. Seeing it on video made those emotions exacerbated. My dad is healing right now. We hope in the future nothing like this happens again. Advertisement

Chicago's aviation officers are not part of the regular police force, unlike in many other big cities. They get less training than regular officers and can't carry firearms inside the airports.

Alderman Chris Taliaferro said he was concerned the incident 'really has put at risk' aviation officers.

The comment was made ahead of a meeting where the City Council is expected to ask a series of questions stemming from the incident, including whether the airport officers even had the legal authority to board the plane.

'They are allowed in the terminal and baggage area, but my understanding is they may not be allowed on a plane,' Alderman Michael Zalewski, who leads the council's aviation committee, said.

An Aviation Department spokeswoman did not respond to questions about the duties of the aviation police force, but Zalewski said the question will be put to the agency's commissioner.

The department will also be asked about training. Zalewski said airport officers receive four months of training compared with the six months cadets must complete before joining the city's police department.

'We don't know what that two-month gap means,' he said, adding that he will ask if the airport officers receive the same kind of training in de-escalating tense situations that city police officers get.

The roughly 300 aviation police officers earn between $50,000 and $88,000 a year and cost the city about $19 million a year. They are city employees but not members of the Chicago Police Department.

It comes as legal experts predicted Dao would be in a strong position in any potential suit, given the wide public outrage over the incident.

United's CEO Oscar Munoz (pictured) has been forced to issue a series of statements and apologies about the incident, and on Wednesday he announced a change to United policy.

'United is looking at a legal claim, but they're also looking at a huge public relations and business problem,' Justin Green, a partner at the law firm Kreindler & Kreindler in New York who represents airline passengers, said.

'United, if they're smart, will quickly and quietly settle the case.'

Prior to the press conference, it was revealed Dr Dao's lawyers had already taken preliminary steps toward filing a lawsuit.

On Wednesday they filed an emergency motion in Cook County Circuit Court asking a judge to ensure the airline and city preserve surveillance video showing passengers boarding Flight 3411 to Louisville.

They're also seeking cockpit voice recordings, incident reports and other materials.

It comes after Dr Dao told local reporters in Louisville earlier this week that 'everything' hurt after the ordeal.

The doctor was bleeding from the face in videos of the incident, and his head could clearly be seen being slammed into an armrest.

United was blasted over the incident, as Dr Dao became a sympathetic figure for most - if not all - who saw the shocking footage.

The airline's CEO was forced to issue a series of statements and apologies about the incident, and on Wednesday he announced a change to United policy.

Munoz told GMA the airline would never again call in police officers to haul a passenger from an overbooked flight.

He also said during the interview he was 'ashamed' when he saw the video.

United announced Wednesday passengers on United Express Flight 3411 would be compensated with cash, travel credits or miles in an amount equal to the cost of their tickets.