Airline sorry after dog made to travel in overhead bin dies

A US airline has apologised and accepted “full responsibility” after a dog died when a crew member allegedly ordered it to be stored in an overhead locker during a flight.

The 10-month-old French bulldog puppy named Kokito died after the United Airlines flight attendant requested that it be put away.

The flight attendant later said she did not know a dog was in an airline-approved pet carrier.

United Airlines said it was “a tragic accident that should never have happened”.

It said pets should not be placed in the overhead locker.

The incident unfolded on Monday during United Flight 1284 from Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport to New York’s LaGuardia.

Sophia Ceballos (11), who got the dog for her birthday, said Kokito barked during the flight, which had involved a lot of turbulence.

“My mom was like: ‘It’s a dog, it’s a dog,’” Sophia told NBC New York. “And (the flight attendant) said: ‘You have to put it up there’.”

The girl’s mother, Catelina Robledo, explained she was not able to get up to help the dog because she was holding a newborn baby in her lap during the turbulence.

“The dog barked and barked but I could not stand,” Ms Robledo said.

Passenger Maggie Gremminger said Ms Robledo was insistent that the dog carrier should stay by her side, to no

Sophia Ceballos at airport with her dog in travel bag, on the right of picture

avail. “The pet owner was very adamant that she did not want to put the pet carrier up above,” Ms Gremminger said.

“She was saying verbally: ‘My dog is in here, no, this is my dog’.

“The flight attendant, in response, really just continued to ask her to put it above because it was a hazard where it was, it was a safety emergency, someone could trip.”

In a statement, United Airlines said: “We assume full responsibility for this tragedy and express our deepest condolences to the family and are committed to supporting them.

“We are thoroughly investigat-

ing what occurred to prevent this from ever happening again.

“Pets should never be placed in the overhead bin.”

United’s policy for onboard animals states that “a pet travelling 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.”

Last April the same airline was heavily criticised after a doctor was dragged off a plane in Chicago when he refused to give up his seat on a flight that had been overbooked.