But they could before and they still can if they use safety as an excuse: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/27/travel/airlines-bumping-r...

Sure, and if they made up safety as an excuse with no valid basis I'm sure they would still lose just as much in the court of public opinion, and actual court

What are the damages for getting booted off an airplane? A few thousand dollars? What happens if you get your head busted up on the way out? Maybe $50k? The only attorneys that would take a case like that would net you pennies on the dollar after fees are taken.

It's a few hundred k probably - juries hate airlines :)

Most attorneys have no problem taking these cases.

Also note that once it's clear it's not legal, the police/city also can be sued if they intervened.

Part of Dao's settlement was an agreement not to sue the city of chicago for that reason.

Oh no, the plane is off balance. You need to leave.

Now it’s not denying boarding.

Fighting with an airline is the same thing as pissing into the wind.