United Airlines Faces Backlash Again After Giant Bunny Dies On Flight

United Airlines is yet again being criticized after a 3-foot-long, healthy bunny died shortly after the flight. This news comes only 3 weeks after the controversial video of a 62-year-old man being dragged off his seat sparked global outrage, tarnishing the airline's reputation.

Now, United Airlines is leading the headlines again, this time for the death of an animal onboard its flight. Simon, a 10-month old continental giant bunny was found dead at the Chicago O'Hare International right after its flight from London's Heathrow Airport.

"I haven't got a clue who's to blame, but it's certainly very weird when Simon was so healthy," said Annette Edwards, a breeder of the bunny. Simon flew all the way from London to be in the arms of the owner who bought him before he died while he was in a cargo load waiting for a connecting flight. United Airlines said they were "saddened to hear this news" in a statement to CNN.

"The safety and well being of all the animals that travel with us is of the utmost importance to United Airlines and our PetSafe team," an email from a United spokesman, Kevin Johnston said. "We have been in contact with our customer and have offered assistance. We are reviewing this matter."

Charles Hobart, another United Airlines spokesperson, further stated that the bunny was showing no signs of distress when the plane landed. Around 30 minutes later, the bunny was placed in the pet facility run by the airlines where it was found dead in its cage by an employee.

Hobart added, "We won't know the cause of death because we offered to perform a necropsy free of charge - that's standard procedure - but the customer didn't want us to perform a necropsy, and we understand." The original owner of Simon stipulated that just hours before the bunny's flight with United Airlines, it was taken to the vet for a check-up and was "fit as a fiddle". It is not clear why the buyer of Simon refused for a necropsy.