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Giant rabbit death adds to United Airline’s woes

United Airlines is reviewing its handling of a giant rabbit that died after being shipped across the Atlantic from Britain

United Airlines is reviewing its handling of a giant rabbit that died after being shipped across the Atlantic from Britain

United Airlines is reviewing its handling of a giant show rabbit that died after being shipped across the Atlantic from Britain on one of its flights, the latest in a growing list of customer complaints.

Distraught breeder Annette Edwards told The Associated Press by phone on Wednesday that a veterinarian had checked Simon – a 10-month-old, almost one-metre continental rabbit – shortly before the animal was placed on a United flight from London’s Heathrow Airport to Chicago’s O’Hare.

Edwards said Simon is the offspring of Darius, which the Guinness World Records lists as the world’s longest rabbit.

United spokesman Charles Hobart said the rabbit was moving around in its crate and appeared healthy when taken off the plane in O’Hare, waiting to be put on another flight to Kansas City.

About a half-hour later, at the company-run pet facility, Simon seemed to be sleeping.

Shortly after that, a pet facility employee opened the cage and found the rabbit dead. He says the airline is reviewing its handling of the animal.

“We won’t know the cause of death, because we offered to perform a necropsy free of charge – that’s standard procedure – but the customer didn’t want us to perform a necropsy, and we understand,” he said.

Hobart said the airline offered compensation to the breeder but would not disclose the amount. 

Simon's father Darius was a world record holder. Photo: Pintinterest/Damien McFadden

Simon’s father Darius was a world record holder. Photo: Pinterest/Damien McFadden

United had the second-highest level of animal deaths and injuries of any US airline last year, or 2.11 per 10,000 animals transported, according to the US Department of Transportation. Only Hawaiian Airlines was worse at 3.99.

United transported 109,149 animals last year, second only to Alaska Airlines with 112,281.

United is already working to repair its battered image after a passenger who refused to give up his seat on an overbooked flight was forcibly dragged from a plane at O’Hare Airport.

– AP

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