A 
Delta Air Lines
flight from Detroit to Los Angeles on Monday had to divert to Minneapolis due to a medical emergency involving a pet in the cabin. A dog that was traveling with a passenger became sick, and after a veterinarian aboard the aircraft had tended to it, the decision was made to divert the fight. Medical personnel were on the ground awaiting the plane’s arrival, and met the dog and its owner after they disembarked.
- IATA/ICAO Code
-
DL/DAL
- Year Founded
-
1929
The flight, operated by an Airbus A321, was carrying 181 passengers and 6 crew members. It had departed Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
on-time, and was scheduled to arrive at Los Angeles International Airport
some five hours later. However, FlightAware shows that the diversion led to a total delay of two and a half hours, with the aircraft only reaching its destination at 01:00 local time.
The Specifics Of The Incident
Memorial Day is notorious for travel delays, and this flight was just one of nearly 8,000 delayed flights across the US on Monday. But it was certainly a unique reason for a delay. The flight was the last of six daily flights that Delta operates between its DTW and LAX hubs, and about an hour into the journey a dog in the cabin became “noticeably unwell.” Flight attendants asked if there were any veterinarians onboard, and fortunately, one was available to provide emergency care.
The captain, in consultation with the veterinarian, ultimately determined that continuing with the flight might prove to be life-threatening to the animal. The decision was made to divert to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport
, another Delta hub, and the pet and its owner de-planed after being met by medical professionals. A spokesperson for Delta said that the animal had ultimately recovered, and the decision to divert was taken with the best interests of all passengers in mind:
“The safety of our customers and people comes before everything else at Delta. That’s why the flight diverted, to ensure a cabin pet that became ill received proper care.”
While the diversion might seem like an extraordinary expense for the airline and an inconvenience for other passengers, there are some additional factors to consider. An animal in distress would likely have caused significant consternation among the passengers, and there were also very likely some sanitary concerns as a result of the illness. The extended delay in MSP suggested that the aircraft might have required cleanup upon its unanticipated arrival.
Regular readers of Simple Flying will know about some of the strangest animal-related reasons for flight diversions, including the Singapore Airlines B747F that had to divert after “exhaust gases” produced by over 2,000 sheep triggered a false smoke indication from a sensor in the cargo hold. Diverting for a sick pet is certainly an uncommon occurrence, but there have been plenty of animal-related diversions in recent times:
|
Recent Animal-Related Flight Diversions |
||
|
Date |
Airline |
Incident |
|
February 2022 |
AirAsia |
A domestic flight in Malaysia was diverted to Kuching when passengers spotted a snake slithering through the overhead compartment. The aircraft was fumigated upon landing. |
|
April 2024 |
United Airlines |
A flight from Houston to Seattle was diverted to Dallas after a dog in the cabin defecated in the aisle, necessitating an unscheduled landing for cleaning. |
|
September 2024 |
SAS |
A flight from Oslo to Malaga was diverted to Copenhagen after a live mouse emerged from a passenger’s meal. The rodent posed a safety risk, leading to an aircraft change. |
|
January 2025 |
KLM |
A flight from Amsterdam to Mexico City was diverted to Bermuda due to a foul odor from 100 pigs in the cargo hold, which affected the cockpit’s air quality. |
|
April 2025 |
American Airlines |
A flight from Provo to Dallas Forth Worth was diverted to Colorado Springs following an attack by a service dog on a passenger. |
Ironically, just today Simple Flying published an article detailing how “pigeon pandemonium” caused the delay of a Delta flight from Minneapolis to Madison. Operated by an Airbus A220-300, the flight was forced to return to the gate not once, but twice, after two birds were discovered aboard the aircraft at different intervals.
Related
Which US Airline Is The Most Pet-Friendly?
It is important for pet owners to choose the best airline to transport their furry friends.
What To Know About Pet Travel On Delta
Delta Air Lines follows all federal requirements for accommodating service animals on flights. Passengers needing to travel aboard a Delta flight with a service animal can visit the Delta website to get guidance on service animal eligibility, as well as complete necessary forms, with step-by-step instructions. Note that emotional support animals are not recognized as service animals.
In addition, the airline also allows small dogs, cats, and household birds to travel in the cabin on domestic flights within the contiguous US. These pets must meet certain requirements, including being at least eight weeks old when traveling, and being able to fit in a soft-sided, ventilated pet kennel that can go directly underneath the seat in front of the passenger. Pets fly for a one-way fee of $150, which is collected at check-in, and are counted as one carry-on item.
