Puppy dies on United flight out of Houston after passenger told to put dog in overhead compartment

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A 10-month-old puppy died on a flight out of Houston's IAH Monday evening after a United Airlines flight attendant told the dog's owner to put it in the overhead compartment.

Shortly after boarding United Fight 1284 to New York's LaGuardia, the passenger was told to place the 10-month-old Frenchie and its carrier in the overhead compartment, June Lara, a passenger who sat behind the owner on the flight, told Chron.com Tuesday afternoon.

"However, the flight attendants of flight UA1284 felt that the innocent animal was better off crammed inside the overhead container without air and water," Lara wrote on Facebook. "They INSISTED that the puppy be locked up for three hours without any kind of airflow. They assured the safety of the family's pet so wearily, the mother agreed."

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By the time the plane landed roughly three hours later and the overhead compartment was opened, the dog was dead, Lara said.

According to United's pet policy, animals must be in a carrier and "fit completely under the seat in front of the customer and remain there at all times."

The airline said in a statement that it is investigating the animal's death.

"This was a tragic accident that should never have occurred, as pets should never be placed in the overhead bin," United said in the statement. "We assume full responsibility for this tragedy and express our deepest condolences to the family and are committed to supporting them. We are thoroughly investigating what occurred to prevent this from ever happening again."

Fernando Alfonso III is a digital reporter at Chron.com. Follow him on twitter at @fernalfonso.