Dog Found Dead During Layover at Detroit Airport

Delta Air Lines is investigating after a Pomeranian died en route from Phoenix to Newark, New Jersey, earlier this week.

The dog, eight-year-old Alejandro, was found deceased in his cage, in the cargo area of Detroit Metropolitan Airport during a layover.

Dog found dead inside cargo hold on Delta Airlines flight. He was an 8-year-old Pomeranian named Alejandro https://t.co/tcrvShrnZj pic.twitter.com/H8FxZKVa5f

— CBS News (@CBSNews) June 3, 2018

According to CNN, the family’s attorney Evan Oshen said the dog was fine when it was checked at 6 a.m., but was deceased when he was checked again between 8 and 8:30 a.m.

Via a statement, Delta has said it is conducting “a thorough review of the situation.”

“We know pets are an important member of the family and we are focused on the well-being of all animals we transport. As part of that review, we want to find out more about why this may have occurred to ensure it doesn’t happen again,” read the statement.

The airline has also offered to have the dog examined by a veterinarian.

United Airlines has also seen its share of in-flight pet deaths this year, including a case where a dog died after the owner was forced to place it in the overhead bin. United temporarily halted its PetSafe pet transport program after the incident, but later announced it was resuming the service. The airline also announced it would work with American Humane to “improve the well being of all pets traveling on United.”