Flight diverted after dog poops in first class: ‘Smell made me ill’

A flight was diverted after a dog pooped in the aisle (Image credit: gig_wizard/Reddit)

A United Airlines flight was diverted after a dog pooped in the aisle of the plane, several news websites have reported. The airline confirmed the incident to Business Insider after a Reddit user posted pictures of the mess left by the dog.

The Reddit user said the dog pooped in the first class section of the plane, and the stench from the mess was unbearable. Ground crew spent two hours trying to clean the mess with paper towels even as passengers tried to get as far away from the stink as possible.

The flight from Houston to Seattle was diverted to Dallas less than an hour after take-off. However, passengers were not allowed to disembark, the Reddit user explained in the comments section. Meanwhile, the food on board went bad during the long wait.

“Dog had messy accident in the aisle right in first class. Plane diverted to DFW. Ground crew spent over 2 hours cleaning carpets with paper towels. Smell made me ill,” the Reddit user recalled in their post. “Gate agents kept yelling at passengers and the cabin crew. The smell never quite went away. First class toilet declared unusable as the dog mess was apparently unresolved in there. Food went bad while on the ground so very few snacks left,” they added.

On its website, United Airlines explains that dogs must always be in their carrier when flying, unless they are service animals. “Once you’re on your flight, there’s only one rule you need to follow. Your pet must stay in their carrier with the door closed, and under your seat at all time,” the airline says.

Earlier this year, passengers on a Delta flight were forced to endure a foul smell for the duration of their journey after a passenger defecated themselves.