United canceled flights for thousands of passengers while the CEO took a private plane

Scott Kirby apologized but blamed the disruptions last weekend on a shortage of FAA air traffic controllers

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby apologized Friday for hopping on a private plane to get out of the New York area earlier this week while thousands of United passengers were stranded because the airline canceled so many flights.

Taking a private jet was the wrong decision because it was insensitive to our customers who were waiting to get home," Kirby said in a statement issued by the airline. I sincerely apologize to our customers and our team members who have been working around-the-clock for several days - often through severe weather - to take care of our customers."