United Airlines is in the middle of controversy once again.
This time, the airline is investigating an incident that happened on a flight heading to LaGuardia Airport on Monday.
The unfortunate story stemmed from an argument between a passenger and flight attendant before the plane took off.
I want to help this woman and her daughter. They lost their dog because of an @united flight attendant. My heart is broken. pic.twitter.com/mjXYAhxsAq
— MaggieGremminger (@MaggieGrem) March 13, 2018
The witness, Maggie Gremminger, tweeted about the ordeal, saying that the flight attendant instructed the passenger that she had to “put her dog bag in the overhead bin.”
“It was clearly a dog and while the customer was adamant about leaving it under the seat, the attendant pushed her to do so,” Gremminger explained, adding that the dog was in a TSA approved bag.
“Myself and a fellow passenger felt like that was not a thing. I am not a flight attendant (though). Maybe they have air ventilation in there that I didn’t know about. I tried googling rules about pets on board but didn’t have ample time before (takeoff).”
The woman was forced to do so, however, and the move had tragic results.
According to Gremminger, the woman found her dog deceased in the overhead bin once the flight was over.
I just flew into LGA and witnessed a United flight attendant instruct a passenger to put her dog bag in the overhead bin. It was clearly a dog and while the customer was adamant about leaving it under the seat, the attendant pushed her to do so. (1)
— MaggieGremminger (@MaggieGrem) March 13, 2018
Myself and a fellow passenger felt like that was NOT a thing. I am not a flight attendant tho. Maybe they have air ventilation in there that I didn’t know about. I tried googling rules about pets on board but didn’t have ample time before takeout. (2)
— MaggieGremminger (@MaggieGrem) March 13, 2018
At the end of the flight, the woman found her dog, deceased. She sat in the airplane aisle on the floor crying, and all of surrounding passengers were utterly stunned. (3)
— MaggieGremminger (@MaggieGrem) March 13, 2018
I am disgusted and traumatized. Pets are family. How could a trained flight attendant instruct a passenger to place her dog in that bin. It was her job to understand the plane and it’s rules/limitations. (4)
— MaggieGremminger (@MaggieGrem) March 13, 2018
I don’t know how I’ll sleep tonight. It was clearly a dog in a TSA approved dog bag. Why would the flight attendant force the woman to put her dog there? I could have done something. I’m so upset.
— MaggieGremminger (@MaggieGrem) March 13, 2018
She reportedly sat in the aisle of the plane crying as passengers around her expressed their stunned disbelief.
“I am disgusted and traumatized,” Gremminger said. “How could a trained flight attendant instruct a passenger to place her do in that bin.
United responded to the incident with a short statement today.
“This was a tragic accident that should have never occurred, as pets should never be placed in the overhead bin,” it read. “We assume full responsibility for this tragedy and express our deepest condolences to the family and are committed to supporting them.”
United added that the airline is “thoroughly investigating” the incident to prevent it from happening again.
