Jet makes emergency landing after dog bites

[RamboLiberal]

PITTSBURGH — A US Airways flight headed to Phoenix made an emergency landing in Pittsburgh after a dog on board bit a passenger and a flight attendant.

US Airways spokesman Todd Lehmacher says the flight left Newark, N.J., on Monday morning. Lehmacher says a passenger carrying a dog let the animal out of its carrier and it bit the two.

The severity of the bites was not known. Lehmacher says the pilot decided to land in Pittsburgh to make sure everyone was OK.

Lehmacher says the airline hoped to get the passengers to Phoenix as soon as possible.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40532237/ns/travel-news/

[TwilightGardener]

1. Pilot did the right thing, but that's a tough decision to make.

[MineralMan]

The dog's owner should be liable for all costs involved in

the emergency landing. They let you take little pets on the plane, but you're required to keep them in their carrier. This passenger let her "pet" out and it bit people. Let the passenger with the dog pay for everything.

I have zero tolerance for pets that bite people. Zero.

[leveymg]

3. I think carry-on cabin privileges are over for Bruiser.

[Vinnie From Indy]

2. WTF!

This is a bizarre story.

[ddeclue]

4. Animals do not belong in passenger space on planes.

I don't know exactly when the airlines decided this was "ok" but animals don't belong in the cabin with me and I'm surprised they don't freak out and attack people more. Leave your dog at home. It needs a vacation from you too.

[NV Whino]

5. I have no problem with pets in the passenger compartment

as long as they are contained. Traveling in cargo is incredibly stressful for an animal.

[ddeclue]

7. Traveling in an airplane is.. It doesn't matter where in the airplane.

The noise, the temperature changes, ...if anything being around a lot of people is stressful too.

[kestrel91316]

8. They can't bite ANYBODY if they are confined to their carriers per airline regulations.

Fine the hell out of the owner, ban him/her from the airline, and make him/her pay all costs incurred due to this completely preventable fiasco.

[ddeclue]

10. Let's see.. I can't bring a 4 ounce bottle of shampoo on the plane

but I can bring a dog that can go beserk and bite people...

No the dog should ride in a carrier in the cargo section where it belongs or it should stay home.

[kestrel91316]

15. No dog can bite anyone if confined to a proper under-the-seat carrier. Whether or not

it is "berserk" in said carrier is another issue, though I have only seen quiet, well-behaved pets on planes - they are intimidated by the process and pretty much lay low.

And yes, I AM a veterinarian.

[TexasObserver]

13. No, they don't.

[xultar]

16. FUCK YES THEY DO!

[Beaverhausen]

19. Dogs ride in planes all the time-this is the first incident of this kind. It's the owners fault

I would say at least half the flights I take these days (only one or two a year) include a four-footed passenger in a bag. They are usually well-behaved.

[guitar man]

6. I smell a new movie

"Dogs on a plane" :silly:

[Historic NY]

9. "when dogs go bad"

[pinboy3niner]

11. "I have had it with these motherfucking dogs...

...on this motherfucking plane!" :rofl:

[Retrograde]

12. Cue the dog lovers in 3..2..1

"But my little precious is sooooo well-behaved - he'd never bother anyone!" I don't mind dogs as a rule, although I'd rather not have them around me in an enclosed space. For some reason, though, the smaller ones then to be rather excitable, and also tend to be owned by people who think of them as an accessory rather than a sentient being.

Keep them confined, or keep them home. And that goes for cats, too, says this cat person.

[Stinky The Clown]

14. I think the dog owner and the dog should be put down. I am sure it can be done humanely.

That was over the top sarcasm.

I think thew owner was stupid. Beyond that, I'm not sure what to say, not knowing the facts any more than any other conclusion jumper-to.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

17. If the animal was coralled, I see no reason to land the plane.

If turniquettes aren't involved, I'd vote to continue the flight as scheduled and let the injured disembark first when arriving at the gate. Dog-Bite? Hell, unless you roll in an Ambulance you're waiting at least two hours for a measly dog-bite in any major city ER.

Give the flight attandant some first aid (soap/water/bandaids) and a few free-drink vouchers. Problem solved.

[flvegan]

18. Manchester terriers are the new terrorists?

Now had this been a pitbull, DU would be in prime whackadoodliciousness.

[RamboLiberal]

20. The carrier wasn't sturdy enough

-----

The pup escaped because her otherwise approved pet carrier gave way.

“My officers were on board,” Walsh said. “They found a Manchester terrier that weighed 12-pounds and an 89-year-old woman who was traveling with the dog.”

Finding herself in close and unfamiliar quarters Mandy, the Manchester terrier, freaked out.

-----

Mandy nipped a flight attendant and one passenger. It was mostly scratches.

-----

The Allegheny County Police provided the 89-year-old woman and her pooch with lunch. A sergeant, who is married to a K-9 officer, loaned Mandy a sturdier carrier for the rest of their trip to Palm Springs via Phoenix and they were on another flight by early afternoon.

http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2010/12/06/flight-diverted-to-pittsburgh-over-dog/

I think all should be forgiven. And good for my home county's police & their officer for showing compassion.