United Airlines 'Makes it Right' for Breaking Guitar

A Nova Scotia musician's year long battle with United Airlines is finally over but not without embarrassment for the airline.

Sons of Maxwell guitarist Dave Carroll , a Halifax musician, had spent this past year attempting to get compensation from United Airlines for what he called “a vicious act of malice” at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago last spring. The drama started when Dave Carroll and his band went on a one week tour in Nebraska via Chicago and just before take-off in Chicago Carroll witnessed the baggage handlers throwing his $3,500 Taylor guitar into the airplane, causing more than $1,000 in damage according to Qi. The bass player’s guitar was also thrown into the baggage compartment. After many months of attempts to obtain compensation Carroll, along with some friends decided to write a song about the ordeal. A music video entitled “United Breaks Guitars” was later released on YouTube with the help of Curve Productions and to date it has received over 4.2 million hits. Since the release of the video a couple of weeks ago, Carroll has received many requests for personal appearances including a call from Oprah Winfrey. The maker of the guitar, Taylor, has offered to repair the guitar free of charge and has also offered a significant discount on his next purchase. United Airlines has also contacted Carroll to discuss the situation in order to “make things right”. According to Carroll, United officials liked the video and want to use it as a textbook case on how to handle customer complaints in the future. According to Carroll's recent upload to YouTube, he is requesting that United donate to charity rather than receive compensation for his loss. Dave Carroll is a Halifax, Nova Scotia musician.