Canberra (dpa) - Australian carrier Qantas has apologized after a woman's dog died while being transported on a flight from Sydney to Brisbane.
In a long Facebook post last week, distraught owner Kay Newman said that her Boxer, named Duke, was left on the tarmac for more than an hour after her flight was delayed on December 19, when it was close to 40 degrees in Sydney.
According to the airline's procedure, animals are loaded last and unloaded first.
She saw her dog on the tarmac and said she became "extremely distressed and started to cry" but was informed after a phone call to the ground crew that her dog was fine.
"But he wasn't fine," she wrote.
When she landed in Brisbane, her worst fears were realised.
"I heard the words I never wanted to hear, 'We have some bad news, I'm sorry but your dog didn't survive the flight and has passed away," Newman said on her Facebook post.
"My poor boy suffered a terrible death because he was left out on the tarmac... His death was 100% preventable. Qantas staff did not exercise their duty of care or use any common sense."
In a statement to dpa on Monday, a Qantas spokesperson said they "have expressed our sympathies to Kay about the passing of her dog, Duke."
"There was an unexpected delay with the flight which meant he was on the tarmac for longer than usual but our baggage handlers said Duke was fine when he was loaded onto the aircraft."
Qantas also said snub nosed dogs, such as Boxers, are at a higher risk when travelling by air due to respiratory issues.
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