I think that it is not insignificant that the United flight in question was operated by Republic Airlines, a subcontractor, and that all airline employees involved, including the dead-heading crewmembers, were Republic employees. Republic Holdings is based in Indianapolis, Indiana and provides regional jet service for United, Delta and American airlines. The Republic CEO is on record openly bragging to his employees that they, Republic, have a contractual agreement with each airline that they can remove any passenger for a deadheading crewmember at anytime because "the airplanes belong to us". United bears responsibility for the conduct of their subcontractor, but Republic crewmembers have frequently repeated their CEO's assertion.