United Airlines bunny death mystery takes a further twist as it’s revealed rabbit was accidentally put in jet freezer for 16 hours
The flight company has launched an investigation but do not know who put the giant pet in the chiller
GIANT rabbit bound for a new life in America died after bungling crisis-hit United Airlines staff accidentally put him in a freezer.
The Sun reported how three foot Simon appeared happy and healthy when he touched down at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport but was found dead a short time later.
A source revealed that the pet froze to death after he was accidentally left in a freezer for around 16 hours.
An airport worker said: “The rabbit arrived fine but there was some sort of mistake and he was locked inside a freezer overnight.
“The next day staff went in and did an inventory.
“The rabbit was huddled up facing away from the front of the cage towards the wall.
“Everyone thought he was just having a nap or something.
“Nobody realised it needed to be taken out.”
MOST READ IN NEWS
The worker said temperatures inside the chiller were between 0C and 2C.
He claims pets are usually kept in a special area kept at room temperature – between 18C and 20C.
Earlier this month 69-year-old Dr David Dao was left battered and bloodied after he was dragged from a United Airlines flight from Chicago to Louisville, Kentucky after the airline overbooked seats.
Speaking about the bunny, the source continued: “The workers had been on shift for about three hours when a rumour started going round that the rabbit was dead.
“Everyone thought it was honestly just taking a nap.
“It was really terrible.”
The worker said United Airlines has launched an investigation but they do not know who put the rabbit in the chiller.
He said: “We know from the inventory that that the rabbit was alive when it reached the airport. So it happened in the warehouse.
“It has all been kept very hush hush but none of us know who froze the rabbit.”
Ten-month-old Simon collapsed while waiting for a connecting flight at Chicago O’Hare Airport after jetting in from London Heathrow.
He was bound for a new life in Kanton in Ohio.
Last night The Sun asked United Airline if the bunny had been put in a freezer.
A United spokesman said: “That assertion is completely false. Simon was cared for at the PetSafe kennel facility which is kept at room temperature (on average 70°F).
“He arrived at Chicago O’Hare airport in apparent good condition at 10:25 am (local time).
“He was seen by a representative of the kennel facility moving about within his crate about 11:00am. Shortly thereafter, a kennel representative noticed Simon was motionless and determined that he passed away.”
