Giant rabbit dies on United Airlines
flight to United States
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[April 26, 2017]
LONDON (Reuters) - A 3-foot giant
rabbit has died on a United Airlines flight from London, prompting a
review at the Chicago-based airline which faced a global backlash this
month over its treatment of a passenger who was dragged from his seat.
The 10-month old rabbit named Simon, who was tipped to become one of the
world's largest rabbits, was traveling to O'Hare in Chicago from Britain
after a celebrity owner purchased him.
He was healthy before the flight, according to the rabbit's breeder.
"Simon had a vet’s check-up three hours before the flight and was fit as
a fiddle," breeder Annette Edwards told The Sun newspaper. "Something
very strange has happened and I want to know what."
The Continental Giant breed rabbit died in the cargo section of a Boeing
767 after leaving Heathrow, she said.
"I’ve sent rabbits all around the world and nothing like this has
happened before," Edwards, a former Playboy model, was quoted as saying.
"The client who bought Simon is very famous. He’s upset."
United said it was saddened by the news of Simon's death.
"We were saddened to hear this news," said United spokesman Kevin
Johnston in an emailed response. "We have been in contact with our
customer and have offered assistance. We are reviewing this matter."
"The safety and wellbeing of all the animals that travel with us is of
the utmost importance to United Airlines and our PetSafe team," the
United spokesman said.
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A United Airlines Boeing 787 taxis as a United Airlines Boeing 767
lands at San Francisco International Airport, San Francisco,
California, U.S. on February 7, 2015. REUTERS/Louis Nastro/File
Photo
Earlier this month, a United passenger, Dr. David Dao, was dragged
from his seat off a parked plane at O'Hare International Airport
bound for Louisville, Kentucky, to make room for crew members.
Video recorded by other passengers showed Dao, a 69-year-old doctor,
being dragged down the aisle with blood on his face after refusing
to give up his seat on a flight from Chicago to Louisville, Kentucky
on April 9.
(Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge and Kate Holton, Editing by Angus
MacSwan)
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