A passenger was removed from a Southwest Airlines flight for allegedly petting her dog, resulting in a TikTok video that went viral with 1.1 million views.
The incident took place on a flight from Colorado to California, and it began when the passenger’s 8-week-old puppy started whining while waiting to take her seat. A flight attendant warned the passenger that if her dog continued to make noise, she might not be allowed to fly.
The passenger started petting her dog, which calmed it down, but this only made the situation worse. After everyone was seated, the woman continued to pet her dog through the top of the carrier. The same flight attendant came over and stated that the crate had to be zipped at all times and under the seat, in accordance with Southwest’s pet policy.
The passenger was confused by what she perceived as contradictory instructions and thought she could wait until everyone had boarded to secure the crate. The employee, however, insisted that the petting should stop immediately. When the passenger resumed petting her dog through the mesh, the flight crew decided to return to the gate and remove her from the flight.
The passenger was escorted off the plane, and her husband, who was also on the flight, voiced his displeasure. In response to his comments, the cabin crew decided to eject the couple as well.
Ultimately, all three were able to catch a United Airlines flight to California and described the experience as “fantastic.”
Southwest Airlines defended their decision to remove the passenger, citing her refusal to comply with their policy of keeping the dog’s kennel closed as the reason for her removal.
TikTok viewers had mixed reactions, with some expressing sympathy for the passenger, while others criticized Southwest Airlines for their actions.