A three-year-old French bulldog named Ash died on an Alaska Airlines flight after he and his owner were moved from first class to economy. The owner, Michael Contillo, filed a lawsuit against the airline after the incident occurred on a flight from New York to San Francisco on February 1. Contillo and his father had purchased first-class tickets for themselves and their two French bulldogs, Ash and Kora. But, just before take-off, airline staff asked them to move to row 11 for safety reasons, despite Contillo explaining that moving the dogs could be dangerous for them, especially since the plane was full of people.
The crew ignored Contillo’s pleas and forced them to move to coach, causing Ash to show signs of anxiety and distress. During the flight, Contillo noticed that Ash had stopped moving but flight attendants told him to keep the pet carrier closed for takeoff. When they landed in San Francisco, Ash’s body was in rigor mortis, which typically only occurs hours after death. Despite discovering that Ash had passed away, the flight crew showed no sympathy or compassion towards Contillo and his father, causing them to grieve the loss of their beloved pet.
Contillo claims that Ash was healthy and active prior to the flight, with no history of illness or surgeries. He had flown with both dogs without any issues previously, and a vet in New York had confirmed that they were healthy enough to make the cross-country trip back to San Francisco. As a result, Contillo is now suing Alaska Airlines for breach of contract for not honoring their first-class tickets, as well as negligence and emotional distress stemming from the loss of Ash on the flight.
The lawsuit alleges that the airline’s actions directly led to Ash’s death and that the crew showed no concern or compassion towards the situation. Contillo and his father were devastated by the loss of their beloved pet, especially given that Ash was healthy and active before the flight. The lawsuit seeks compensation for the emotional distress caused by the incident, as well as holding the airline accountable for not honoring their first-class tickets as agreed.
Alaska Airlines has yet to respond to the lawsuit. Contillo’s case highlights the importance of ensuring the safety and well-being of pets during air travel, as well as the responsibility of airlines to uphold their contractual agreements with passengers. The tragic loss of Ash on the flight serves as a reminder of the potential risks and consequences of inadequate care and consideration for pets during travel. Contillo’s lawsuit seeks justice for the mishandling of the situation and the emotional distress caused by the loss of his beloved French bulldog.
