Dog Dies After United Makes It Fly In Overhead Bin: Report

QUEENS, NY – A dog died after a United Airlines attendant made its owner place it in an overhead bin during a flight between Houston and New York City's LaGuardia airport, reports said.

The airline accepted full responsibility for the dog's in-flight death on United flight 1284 Monday, calling it "a tragic accident that should never have occurred, as pets should never be placed in the overhead bin," aviation news site "The Points Guy" first reported.

The report said a passenger brought the dog onboard in a TSA-approved carrier but was ordered to store it in the bin by a flight attendant, according to The Points Guy.

The dog's owner pushed back on the flight attendant's demand but eventually complied, passengers told the website One Mile at a Time.

The dog was heard barking from the overhead compartment throughout the flight, but by the end of the trip it had died, The Points Guy reported.

This isn't the first time United has been in hot water for mistreating its flyers. The airline came under fire nearly a year ago when a passenger was violently dragged from a Chicago flight after refusing to give up his seat so employees could fly.

David Dao, 69, suffered a concussion, a broken nose, two lost teeth and other injuries after Chicago aviation security officers pulled him off the plane at a flight attendant's request, Patch previously reported.

As for the latest incident, United Airlines apologized for the pooch's death in a statement to NBC 5 and expressed "our deepest condolences to the family."

"We are thoroughly investigating what occurred to prevent this from ever happening again," the statement read.

United Airlines policy allows for small dogs to travel on most planes.

United Airlines representatives could not immediately be reached by Patch for comment.

Lead photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images