United Airlines Flight Diverted Due to Poo Incident: Is it Time for a Reevaluation of Pet Policies?

Recently, a United Airlines flight bound for Seattle from Houston had to divert to Dallas after a dog defecated in the aisle next to the first-class bathroom. According to United’s policy, only service animals are allowed in the cabin without being in a pet carrier.

The incident occurred on Flight 422, which was a Boeing 737. A Reddit user named “gig_wizard” shared their experience, stating that the ground crew spent over two hours trying to clean up the mess with paper towels but couldn’t 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 unusual occurrence as last September, Delta Air Lines 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 board their flights. On domestic flights, pets are allowed in the cabin as long as they are in a carrier that fits under the seat. However, service animals are allowed without carriers. The airline advises bringing toys to keep pets calm and plastic bags in case of emergencies.