CULTURE

Dog Dies on United After Flight Attendant Forced Passenger to Put Carrier in Overhead Bin

A dog in a TSA-compliant pet carrier died on a United flight from Houston to NYC after a flight attendant forced its owner to put the animal and its carrier in an overhead bin for the entire four-hour flight.

According to Maggie Gremminger, a passenger, she and others heard the French bulldog barking during, and were horrified to learn the animal had passed away later in the trip, she told People.

“A stranger offered to hold her newborn while she sat on the floor, there in the airplane aisle. She was holding her dog and rocking back and forth. Her daughter was also crying,” Gremminger stated.

Gremminger told People once the dog was found dead, the flight attendant became “frazzled” and insisted she did not know there was a live animal in the carrier.

“I want to help this woman and her daughter. They lost their dog because of an @united flight attendant. My heart is broken,” Gremminger wrote on Twitter, sharing a photo of the family who allegedly lost their dog.

The Points Guy reported that United has since claimed responsibility for the “tragic accident.”

United’s pet policy reads:

“A pet traveling in cabin must be carried in an approved hard-sided or soft-sided kennel. The kennel must fit completely under the seat in front of the customer and remain there at all times.”

United Airlines spokesperson Maggie Schmerin spoke with Fox News’ issuing this statement:

“This was a tragic accident that should never have occurred, as pets should never be placed in the overhead bin. We assume full responsibility for this tragedy and express our deepest condolences to the family and are committed to supporting them,” she said.

“We are thoroughly investigating what occurred to prevent this from ever happening again,” Schmerin added.