Dog dies on Alaska Air flight after downgrade to coach, lawsuit alleges

A French bulldog died connected an Alaska Airlines formation from New York to San Francisco earlier this twelvemonth aft nan pet and its proprietor were moved from first people to coach conscionable earlier takeoff, a suit alleges. 

The plaintiff, Michael Contillo, claims his astir four-year-old French bulldog, Ash, died "as a nonstop and foreseeable consequence of nan wrongful conduct" of nan hose aft he was moved to different portion of nan plane, according to nan complaint.

Contillo had bought first-class seats for himself and his begetter connected a February 2024 formation truthful that his 2 French bulldogs could committee early and person much space, alleges nan suit, which was revenge successful San Francisco County Superior Court connected Oct. 16.

Along pinch purchasing tickets, Contillo had reserved abstraction successful first people for some dogs for an further $100 each, according to nan suit. He alleges that, though his dogs' carriers complied pinch hose policies, conscionable earlier nan formation was group to hole for take-off hose unit asked him and his begetter to move from nan 4th statement successful first people to a statement successful nan main compartment "for information purposes."

Contillo protested, saying that moving nan dogs would make them "very anxious," starring to "extremely dangerous" breathing and bosom problems, according to nan complaint, which alleged that he told hose unit that nan alteration could beryllium lethal. The suit claims nan pair's caller seats gave nan dogs little abstraction to respire and that hose labor ignored their concerns. 

Ash, nan canine who died, "started breathing very quickly and heavily, pinch noticeable anxiety" conscionable earlier takeoff, according to nan lawsuit. The hose told Contillo that nan dog's bearer needed to beryllium closed, and he complied pinch nan request.

Contillo said he noticed Ash had stopped moving, but that he had to hold for nan level to ascend to a definite altitude earlier he could cheque connected his pet. By nan clip Contillo disembarked successful San Francisco, Ash was successful rigor mortis, suggesting that he had died hours earlier, nan suit claims. 

"The full formation crew, including nan pilot, deboarded nan level and showed nary sympathy for nan plaintiff's dog's loss. No 1 stopped to show concern, connection condolences aliases show nan slightest spot of compassion," nan suit alleges.

Prior to nan flight, Contillo had nan 2 dogs evaluated, and some were wished fresh to fly, nan suit claims, noting that Ash was "a very patient and progressive canine pinch nary history of unwellness aliases surgeries."

Contillo, who blames his dog's decease connected nan airline's "unjustifiable" spot change, is suing Alaska Air for breach of contract, negligence, negligent hiring and supervision, and negligent infliction of affectional distress. He is seeking punitive damages to beryllium wished astatine trial. 

"Alaska Airlines labor should person known nan requirements needed to debar that happening," nan suit states. 

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• Alaska Airlines