Family devastated after pet dog dies in cargo hold of delayed United Airlines flight
A US family is demanding answers after their pet dog died in the cargo hold of an United Airlines flight that was reportedly delayed on the tarmac for two hours.
According to the Texas family's Facebook post, five-year-old Cavalier King Charles spaniel Lulu was dead when they went to pick her up after a flight from Houston to San Francisco.
The Rasmussen family received the devastating news when their flight arrived in San Francisco.
The family told local media a vet cleared their pooch to fly just days before the flight.
"We are still waiting for answers, but what we do know is that our flight was delayed on the runway in Houston for almost two hours," the family wrote in a Facebook post.
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The family noted there were air-conditioning issues in the main cabin, which they said may have contributed to the dog’s death.
United Airlines apologised, saying the carrier was upset about the incident.
"We are so sorry to learn of Lulu’s passing and have reached out to our customer to offer our condolences and assistance,” a spokesperson said in a statement to ABC News.
We are deeply upset any time an animal suffers an injury while traveling with us and especially grieved in the rare instance that one passes away. We are conducting a thorough review of this incident," the statement said.
Lulu’s family has not yet confirmed if they would take legal action against United, however the airline was sued last month after a giant rabbit was found dead during a flight.
A group of Iowa businessmen filed the lawsuit after their rabbit named Simon was found dead following a trans-atlantic flight.
The bunny, measuring over a metre long, was on his way to be entered for the world's largest rabbit prize at the Iowa State Fair.
