United Airlines is facing a lot of heat after a passenger was forcibly dragged out by police from a flight after stating it was overbooked, said a report.

The incident, which took place on Sunday, fuelled a backlash online after pictures and a video uploaded by passengers showed a bloodied man being dragged by his arms down the aisle, according to a report in Chicago Tribune.

Many took to social media on Monday to call for a boycott followiing the incident.

According to reports, the man and three other passengers were bumped from the flight so that United could fly four employees who were needed in Louisville the following day. The man, who was not identified, said he was a doctor who needed to fly home to see patients, the report said.

It is the second high-profile embarrassment for the airline in recent weeks, after it refused to let two girls board a flight in late March for wearing leggings.