A United Airlines flight bound for Seattle from Houston recently had to make an unexpected detour to Dallas after a dog defecated in the aisle next to the first-class bathroom. According to United’s policy, only service animals are permitted in the cabin without being in a pet carrier.
This incident occurred on Flight 422, which was a Boeing 737. The Reddit user “gig_wizard” shared their experience, stating that the ground crew spent over two hours trying to clean the mess with paper towels but were unable to completely eliminate the smell. As a result, the first-class toilet became unusable and the food onboard spoiled due to the extended time on the ground dealing with the issue.
This is not an isolated incident as last September, a Delta Air Lines flight had to turn around when a passenger appeared to defecate in the aisle resulting in a similar “medical issue” explanation from the airline.
This recent event may bring into question United Airlines’ policies regarding pets on flights. On domestic flights, pets are allowed in the cabin as long as they are in a carrier that fits under the seat, while service animals are allowed without carriers. The airline advises bringing toys to keep pets calm and plastic bags for emergencies.
