CHICAGO — Simon the giant rabbit was alive after a United flight to O'Hare, the airline is contending.
The giant rabbit died after taking a United flight from Britain to Chicago, en route to a new owner Tuesday. Simon, already 3 feet long at 10 months old, was expected to be one of the largest — if not the largest — rabbits in the world by the time he was fully grown.
The rabbit's death sparked another round of controversy for United, which said it was "saddened" by the news on Wednesday. An investigation showed the rabbit was "in apparent good condition" when it arrived at O'Hare about 10:25 a.m., the airline said.
At 11 a.m., Simon was seen moving around in his crate while at a kennel facility awaiting another flight, United said. Shortly later, someone in the kennel noticed Simon wasn't moving and they determined he had died.
Simon's owner declined United's offer to have the rabbit examined to determine his cause of death, the airline said.
"We were saddened to hear this news. The safety and well being of all the animals that travel with us is of the utmost importance to United Airlines and our PetSafe team," United said in an emailed statement Wednesday. "We have been in contact with our customer and have offered assistance. We are reviewing this matter."
Simon was "fit as a fiddle" during a checkup just hours before the flight from Britain to Chicago, his breeder, Annette Edwards, told the Sun. Her website says her rabbits are sold throughout the world and receive a "full health examination" by a veterinarian to ensure they can fly on an airplane.
United also requires owners to get a health certificate from a veterinarian within 10 days of a pet's flight.
Some 35 animals died in transit on 17 airlines in 2015, the Associated Press reported, citing the most recent government statistics. United accounted for 14 deaths; it transported nearly 100,000.
Animal rights group PETA decried what happened to Simon, saying he'd been "failed" by his breeder and by United Airlines.
"This rabbit's death is not unique — more than 300 animals have died in cargo holds since 2005, and many more have been injured or lost," the organization said in a statement. "PETA urges United to join JetBlue and Southwest in prohibiting companion animals from being flown as checked baggage in the confusion, noise, extreme temperatures and improper pressurization of a cargo hold."
United has been under intense scrutiny since videos showed a man, David Dao, being dragged off the flight by security while bleeding. Dao was asked to leave so flight crew could have a spot on the packed plane, United contended, but the doctor insisted he had to be on the flight from Chicago to Louisville to see patients the next day.
Dao and his attorney have taken steps toward a lawsuit against United.
