Ten animals were killed, injured or lost on flights by six U.S. airlines in May, the first month that carriers were required to report such data to the government. Injuries and a loss were reported by Northwest Airlines, Continental, Alaska Air Group’s Alaska, Frontier Airlines and Delta Air Lines’ Comair.
In one instance, Mr. Baby, a cat arriving in Atlanta from Denver, was placed on a luggage conveyor belt by a Frontier employee, resulting in broken nails, a nose cut and “emotional trauma.” The Frontier employee was disciplined and Frontier reimbursed the cat’s owner for all expenses, including medical and transportation fees.
Congress in April 2000 enacted the law for airlines, which transport about 500,000 animals a year. Data, which the government Thursday started to disclose monthly, “will help consumers make informed decisions about whether and how to travel with pets,” the Transportation Department said.
