A beloved three-year-old French bulldog died on an Alaska Airlines flight after he and his owner were bumped from first class to economy, a new lawsuit alleges.
The owner, Michael Contillo, slapped the airline with the lawsuit last week after his pooch named Ash suddenly passed away on the flight from New York to San Francisco on Feb. 1, according to court papers.
The alleged ordeal unfolded after Contillo and his father, who both purchased first-class tickets, boarded the flight at JFK and took their fourth-row seats with Ash and his other French bulldog, named Kora, in their pet carriers.
Just before take-off, Contillo claims airline staff approached and asked them all to move back to row 11 for “safety purposes,” the suit filed in San Francisco County Superior Court states.
“Plaintiff explained that moving the dogs at this point before takeoff would be extremely dangerous for the dogs. He further explained that the dog was calm at the moment but would not be calm anymore now that the plane was full of people,” the filing alleges.
“To move the dogs now would make them very anxious and excited, which would lead to extremely dangerous breathing and heart problems. This change could be lethal for a dog, especially right before you change altitudes.”
Contillo claims the crew ignored their pleas and forced them to move back to coach.
“At this time, Ash immediately started breathing very quickly and heavily, with noticeable anxiety,” the suit charges.
The owner alleged he noticed Ash had “stopped moving” but flight attendants told him to close the pet carrier for takeoff — meaning he couldn’t check on the cream-colored pooch until later.
“By the time the Plaintiff and his father deboarded the plane at the San Francisco International Airport, Ash’s body was entirely in rigor mortis,” the lawsuit states, adding that it usually doesn’t set in for dogs until about four hours after death.
“The Plaintiff and his father confirmed that Ash was indeed dead and immediately started to weep, the filing continued.
“The entire flight crew, including the pilot, deboarded the plane and showed no sympathy for the Plaintiff’s dog’s loss. No one stopped to show concern, offer condolences, or show the slightest bit of compassion.”
Contillo claims that prior to the flight, the dog was “very healthy and active” with “no history of illness or surgeries,” the filing says.
Months earlier, Contillo said he had flown with Ash to the Big Apple from San Francisco with zero issues.
“The Plaintiff and his father flew in the first-class cabin without issues, and both French Bulldogs safely arrived in New York. For those couple of months in New York, they remained healthy and active throughout their stay,” the suit states.
Before flying back on the ill-fated flight, Contillo said both French Bulldogs were examined by a vet in New York to make sure they were healthy enough for the cross-country trip.
“The Vet confirmed that both dogs were healthy and would be safe to take a cross-country flight,” the court papers allege.
Contillo is suing the airline for breach of contract by not honoring their first-class tickets, as well as negligence and emotional distress.
The Post has reached out to Alaska Airlines for comment.
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