2025 Airline Pet Travel Summary
Chris N
Chris started PetFlight in 2005 when he moved to Hawaii with his Retired Guide Dog, Brent. He created it to help people find pet travel information more easily. For nearly 20 years, he’s kept PetFlight up to date with the latest on pet travel incidents. Chris now lives in Utah, with his Retired Guide Dog, Missouri, and his rescue cat, Milo.
Chris N
Chris N
Chris started PetFlight in 2005 when he moved to Hawaii with his Retired Guide Dog, Brent. He created it to help people find pet travel information more easily. For nearly 20 years, he’s kept PetFlight up to date with the latest on pet travel incidents. Chris now lives in Utah, with his Retired Guide Dog, Missouri, and his rescue cat, Milo.
2025 Airline Pet Travel Summary
In 2025, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) documented 8 pet-related air travel incidents, comprising 1 loss, 4 injuries, and 3 deaths.
Incident Breakdown by Airline
| Airline | Losses | Injuries | Deaths | Total Incidents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska Airlines | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| American Airlines | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Delta | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| United Airlines | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Total | 1 | 4 | 3 | 8 |
This data reflects incidents reported through December 2025.
Incident Details
Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines reported 3 incidents in 2025.
A dog died on February 10, 2025 on an Alaska Airlines flight. A second dog death occurred on December 5, 2025, involving Meli, a three-year-old Golden Retriever traveling from Honolulu (HNL) to Seattle (SEA) with a connecting flight to Charleston (CHS). Meli was discovered unresponsive before loading at the gate in Seattle, having kenneled overnight there without issue, and was pronounced deceased by a veterinarian. No corrective action was taken at the time of reporting.
A dog was also injured on May 15, 2025 on an Alaska Airlines flight.
American Airlines
American Airlines reported 3 incidents in 2025.
A dog was lost on January 8, 2025 — the only pet loss reported across all carriers for the year. Two additional dogs were injured, one on June 3, 2025 and another on July 3, 2025.
Delta
Delta reported 1 incident in 2025: a dog injury on May 2, 2025.
United Airlines
United Airlines reported 1 incident in 2025: the death of a dog on February 4, 2025.
Year-Over-Year Comparison
2025 saw a meaningful improvement over 2024, which recorded 12 incidents — 4 injuries and 8 deaths, with no losses. The reduction from 12 to 8 total incidents represents a 33% decrease year-over-year, and the number of deaths dropped from 8 to 3. Notably, 2025 was the first year since 2024 with a reported pet loss, with American Airlines logging one incident of that type.
Closing Thoughts
While the overall number of pet travel incidents remains low relative to the total number of animals transported annually, each incident is a reminder of the care and preparation required when flying with a pet. Pet owners are encouraged to research airline-specific policies, consult with a veterinarian before travel — particularly for brachycephalic breeds or older animals — and ensure kennels meet IATA and carrier standards for size, construction, and security.
A full summary of all 2025 pet incidents can be found at petflight.com/pettravelincident_summaries/2025.
Related Resources
Related Resources
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