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United Airlines is under fire after a passenger was forcibly removed from an overcrowded plane in Chicago.

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) Republicans say they are troubled and horrified by the forcible removal of a United Airlines passenger from an overcrowded flight, but they letting state and federal regulators handle the matter for now.

Airport security personnel on Sunday dragged a man from a flight at Chicagos OHare airport, leaving him bruised and bloodied. The video-taped event has sparked national outrage and heavy criticism of United UAL, -0.30%

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In statements emailed to MarketWatch, the top Republicans on the House Transportation Committee said they are monitoring the situation and keeping in contact with the federal regulators as they investigate.

I am troubled by the incident in Chicago in which a paying customer was forcefully removed from a flight without apparent just cause, said Rep. Bill Shuster, a Pennsylvania Republican. This entire situation was poorly managed and avoidable. No one should ever be treated this way.

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Congressman Frank LoBiondo, a New Jersey Republican, called the incident horrific and absolutely avoidable.

The chief spokesman for President Donald Trump called the United incident troubling, but he also said it was a local matter already under investigation by the proper state and federal authorities.

To watch a human get dragged down an aisle with their head banging off armrests and not think it couldnt have been handled better, I would assume we can all agree upon that, said Sean Spicer in the White House daily briefing with reporters.

House Democrats were more vocal.

Reps. Peter DeFazio and Rick Larsen, the chambers top Democrats on transportation matters, criticized the airline industry practice of overbooking. They asked the Transportation Department to determine whether federal laws were violated and report back to Congress.

While overbooking is not illegal, we are deeply disturbed by the actions taken aboard Flight 3411 to deal with the situation, they said in a joint statement.

Other Democrats on the panel said they would seek hearings.

Late in the day, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie became the first Republican to call for a tougher response. Saying the practice of overbooking has become unconscionable, he urged the Transportation Department to temporarily suspend the authority of airlines to engage in the practice until a thorough review is done.

Opinion: What United should have done after man violently pulled off flight

Under current law, airlines are supposed to offer customers up to $1,350 in exchange for accepting later flights on overcrowded routes.

Hundreds of thousands of seats are overbooked each year, the result of airlines seeking to ensure they dont lose any revenue because of undersold flights or customers who dont show up.

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Republicans 'troubled' by United passenger incident but keeping hands off for now - MarketWatch