May United Airlines be the first to bite the dust

We all love to hate the airlines these days. I'm no different. But the reason we hate them is because of their stupid new fees, the inconvenience of delays and rising prices. All of which are annoying, of course—and they're all guilty.

But a story I just read goes beyond the pale—far beyond. It angered me more than any other airline horror story. Enough that I hope United Airlines is the first airline to go bankrupt, bite the dust and sell off its assets. Let it be absorbed by another airline, so that its name, logo and brand disappear off the face of the earth forever.

Here's the story.
 
Update 8/20: Here's a halfway uplifting follow-up to the original story (but still shame on United).