The beleaguered airline says it has reached a resolution with breeder of giant rabbit Simon who died after a flight, but owners are demanding compensation

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

A United Airlines spokesman said on Monday the beleaguered airline had reached a satisfactory resolution with the British breeder of Simon, a giant rabbit that died after flying from the UK to Chicago.

The airline declined to comment on a threat of legal action from the owners of Simon the rabbit, a group of businessmen who live in Iowa.

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An attorney for the owners, Guy Cook, said they were troubled that the continental giant rabbit was cremated without a necropsy, or post-mortem examination, soon after its death on 20 April. Cook said he sent a letter to United Airlines on 4 May but said he had not heard back.

A United spokesman, Charles Hobart, said United reached a resolution with breeder Annette Edwards, who was United’s customer and is based in Worcestershire, England. He said she declined the airline’s offer of a necropsy.

Hobart declined to comment on the letter sent by Cook.

Simon had been expected to grow to become the world’s largest rabbit. The owners are seeking the costs of buying and transporting him – estimated at $2,300 – as well as compensation for lost future earnings.

Speaking in front of a large video monitor displaying a photo of the dead rabbit on its side in a large crate, Cook said the group of Des Moines area businessmen who bought Simon had planned to enter Simon at the Iowa State Fair, win a prize for the biggest rabbit, then display him at later events to raise money for the fair.

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When he died, Simon was about 3.5ft long and weighed 20lbs. Cook said he could have grown to weigh 40lbs, likely making him larger than Simon’s father and the world’s biggest rabbit.

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“United has taken no action to rectify this,” Cook said. “This case is about more than one rabbit.”

News of the rabbit’s death came as the airline was struggling to repair its image following the videotaped removal of a passenger from a United plane at Chicago’s O’Hare airport.

Images of the passenger, who was battered as he was dragged from the plane, circulated widely on social media and prompted condemnation and threats of a lawsuit. The passenger quickly reached a settlement with United for an undisclosed sum. Last week, the airline’s chief executive said the incident had been “a mistake of epic proportions”.

Earlier, the airline was criticized after two young girls weren’t allowed on a flight because they wore leggings.