Woman's pet dog dies during 11-hour Air France-KLM flight

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has expressed sympathy for a dog that died on a flight from Amsterdam to Los Angeles. The owner is reportedly devastated. (Photo: Getty Images)
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has expressed sympathy for a dog that died on a flight from Amsterdam to Los Angeles. The owner is reportedly devastated. (Photo: Getty Images)

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is waiting for autopsy results on a dog that passed away on a Tuesday flight.

An airline representative tells Yahoo Lifestyle, “A dog was found dead in the cargo hold of KL601, after a flight from Amsterdam to Los Angeles on March 19th. The dog’s owner has been notified and we express our condolences. In cooperation with the local health authority in the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the dog was initially examined to ensure there was no immediately obvious public health threat. The dog was loaded correctly according to KLM’s pet policy. We have to wait for the results of the necropsy to determine the cause of death.”

On Wednesday morning, TMZ reported that a dog, which resembled a husky, was found dead in a cargo hold (the baggage compartment under the plane) at Los Angeles International Airport after an Air France-KLM flight from Amsterdam.

Contrary to the airline’s statement, an unnamed employee told TMZ that the dog wasn’t loaded properly into the cargo hold and lost oxygen during the nearly 11-hour flight. The “devastated” owner reportedly picked up her pet in the airport’s warehouse.

According to KLM’s pet policy, small cats and dogs can fly in a pet travel bag stored under seats. However, bigger animals are stored in a ventilated area of the cargo hold as long as the pet and its carrier doesn’t exceed 165 pounds.

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