Pet Dog Kept In Unzipped Bag On Air India Flight | Instagram@chennai_plane_spotting
A video circulating online has sparked controversy after an unidentified woman on an Air India flight was seen arguing with airline staff over her pet dog. The woman, who was the pet’s owner, had unzipped the doggo’s travel bag to allow the animal to breathe.
However, it reportedly violated airline policies and led to intervention from the airline’s ground staff, who requested the passenger to either close the bag’s zip for passenger safety or exit the flight. Instead of adhering to the travel rules, she argued with the authority, saying,”Her face, just her nose can be seen. This is literally just so that she can breathe”.
The viral video, uploaded by the pet owner on social media, shows the dog peeking out of a partially unzipped black travel bag. The woman can be heard engaging in an argument with a uniformed airline official wearing a high-visibility vest and holding a walkie-talkie inside the aircraft.
Visuals surface
Woman asked to offboard after she insists to keep zip open
The staff insisted that the pet carrier remain closed in compliance with airline safety regulations. The woman, however, defended her actions, suggesting she unzipped the bag only to ensure her dog could breathe comfortably during the air travel.
In the video, the staff asked the woman to completely close the bag to allow the flight to take off. “You can’t keep it open, ma’am. Isn’t it open, ma’am? You need to offboard from the flight”, he said asking the woman to step down from the aircraft if she didn’t travel obeying the airline’s rules of carrying the pet onboard.
While the exact flight details remain unknown, speculation has arisen regarding the timeline of the incident, noting all passengers and the staff were wearing face masks, similar to practices observed during the COVID-19 pandemic. So, it remains unclear whether the incident is recent or if the footage is from an earlier time.
Airline policy
Most airlines, including Air India, have strict policies regarding in-cabin pet travel, requiring pets to remain in secure carriers throughout the flight to ensure the safety of both the pet and passengers.
While the woman in the video expressed concerns about her pet’s well-being, the airline staff emphasised adherence to protocols.
According to Air India’s pet travel policy, pets needs to be in a soft, ventilated bag or kennel and must be muzzled during their journey. “As per DGCA guidelines, we allow only two pets in the cabin per flight. Additionally, each pet must be accompanied by a passenger. Your pet dog must be muzzled and on a leash in flight”, the airline’s official website reads.
