A passenger on a Delta flight who was mauled in the face by a veteran's emotional support dog released harrowing photographs of his wounds before he received 28 stitches.

Marlin Termaine Jackson was sitting in the window seat on Delta flight 1430 from Atlanta, Georgia, to San Diego, California, on Sunday, when he was attacked by Ronald Mundy Jr's service dog.

Jackson was mauled twice, and suffered several lacerations on his face, including a 'puncture through the lip and gum', according to a statement released by his attorney J. Ross Massey.

Jackson was mauled twice, and suffered several lacerations on his face (above), including a 'puncture through the lip and gum', according to his attorney

Jackson was mauled by Marine veteran Ronald Mundy Jr's service dog, described as a 50-pound Labrador retriever-pointer mix (above)

The dog began growling shortly after Jackson (left) boarded the plane and sat down, witnesses said. Pictured right, Mundy with another dog

Jackson was in the window seat, while the dog's owner, Ronald Kevin Mundy Jr. of Mills River, North Carolina, was sitting in the middle seat with his dog on his lap.

The dog, described as a Labrador retriever-pointer mix, began growling shortly after Jackson boarded the plane and sat down, witnesses said.

According to Bridget Maddox-Peoples, another passenger on the plane told her that Jackson asked the owner, 'Is this dog going to bite me?'

'You could hear a dog growling and a bark and someone screamed 'I need help, there's a medical emergency.' The area was completely covered in blood,' Maddox-Peoples told Fox 5.

'The gentleman's face was completely bloody. His shirt was covered in blood,' Maddox-Peoples said. 'When he walked out, he had a cloth over his face.

Mundy pulled his dog off Jackson's face, but the animal broke free and attacked him a second time, according to Massey.

The attack occurred before the plane took off, and Jackson was transported to the emergency room where he received 28 stitches.

Mundy (right) pulled his dog off Jackson's face, but the animal broke free and attacked Jackson (left) a second time, according to Massey

Jackson, who is likely to be permanently scarred, is awaiting a consultation with a plastic surgeon, Massey said.

The attorney issued a statement on Thursday, saying: 'We understand and respect the importance of emotional support and service animals, especially for our nation's veterans.

'We are also concerned with Delta Air Lines' compliance with their policies to ensure the safety of all passengers. It is troubling that an airline would allow a dog of such substantial size to ride in a passenger's lap without a muzzle.

'Especially considering the dog and its owner were assigned a middle seat despite Delta Air Lines' policies that call for the re-accommodation of larger animals.'

According to Delta, the airline 'complies with the Air Carrier Access Act by allowing customers traveling with emotional support animals or psychiatric service animals to travel without charge' as long as they provide documentation.

Delta's website also says trained service dogs are allowed to be in the cabin without a kennel.

Witness Bridget Maddox-Peoples said she heard growling, a bark and then a scream

The dog was placed in a carrier and put on another flight with its owner, Delta said.

An unnamed witness told Fox 5 that Mundy was seen in the gate area cradling the dog in his arms, crying, and repeatedly saying, 'I know they're going to put him down.'

Mundy was not charged in the incident.