Well summarized, especially the last point. Terms like "crewmember" [sic] and "flight time" have very clear definitions in the relevant sections of USC and CFR

Well summarized, especially the last point. Terms like "crewmember" [sic] and "flight time" have very clear definitions in the relevant sections of USC and CFR. Using intuitive "common sense" definitions will lead to a wrong answer - is is often the case with anything legal. Legally, he didn't interfere with a flight crew and wasn't obligated to obey them as a flight crew. The only charge I could see sticking here is simple trespass. United/Republic, as the owners of the vehicle in which he was sitting, had the right to evict him regardless of whether any contract says otherwise. The contract issue has to be resolved separately. However, things like common-carrier laws might complicate even that. It's entirely possible that trespass doesn't apply either. United broke their contract. They also took action which led to violence. Those are two separate things in a legal sense, but United can and should be held accountable for both.