Dog Dies On Houston United Flight In Overhead Storage Bin

HOUSTON, TX — A 10-month-old French bulldog died Monday night after its owners were forced to put the pet in an overhead bin on a United Airlines flight from Houston to New York. Upon landing at LaGuardia Airport, the TSA-approved pet carrier was removed as the dog's owner called its name, Papacito, several times, then tried to resuscitate the pet. Bystanders say after Papacito perished, the remaining passengers on board hugged each other and wept.

According to witnesses, the woman who brought Papacito aboard the plane was persuaded by a flight attendant who insisted she put the kennel in the plane's overhead bin.

“There was no sound as we landed and opened his kennel,” passenger June Lara wrote in a Facebook post. “There was no movement as his family called his name. I held her baby as the mother attempted to resuscitate their 10-month-old puppy.”

Patch has reached out to see if the dog owner is from Houston or the surrounding area. (For more news like this, find your local Patch here. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here.)

According to a story in the New York Post, passengers heard barking during the flight, and only learned after the flight that the dog had died. Pets should never be placed in an overhead bin, one aviation news site says.

Lara's post, along with one posted by passenger Maggie Gremminger, lit up social media with outrage at United Airlines and, more specifically, the flight attendant.

In a report by aviation website The Points Guy, a United spokesperson apologized for the dog's death in a 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. We are thoroughly investigating what occurred to prevent this from ever happening again.”

United’s website states its policy for in-cabin pets is: “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.”

Additionally, aside from the emotional distress, there's a financial tag to bring pets aboard the flights. The airline's website further says: "United allows domesticated cats, dogs, rabbits and household birds (excluding cockatoos) to travel accompanied in the aircraft cabin on most flights within the U.S. An in-cabin pet may be carried in addition to a carry-on bag and is subject to a $125 service charge each way.

Top image: A United Airlines plane sits on the tarmac at San Francisco International Airport. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)