5-year-old golden retriever dies in cargo hold on Korean Air's KE 868 from Guangzhou to Incheon Thursday

Not directly related to the article. [Image created using AI]
Not directly related to the article. [Image created using AI]

A foreign woman said her dog died during a Korean Air flight and called on the airline to reveal the truth. Korean Air maintains that "there was nothing wrong with the onboard environment."

A post spread across online communities on Tuesday, drawing wide attention. The dog's owner had written on her personal social media account calling for a full investigation into her pet's death aboard Korean Air flight KE868. The flight departed from Guangzhou, China, and was headed to Incheon International Airport on Thursday.

On Friday, a Chinese woman identified as Liang Jingwen wrote on her social media account that she wanted to know what had happened to her dog. She said Korean Air had refused her requests for closed-circuit television footage, full records of the transport, unloading and handover process, and the duty logs of the staff in charge.

Bubble was reportedly a golden retriever approaching her sixth birthday. Liang said she got her dog back two hours after the flight landed, and by then Bubble was already dead.

"I went straight to the transfer counter right after landing and waited there for Bubble," Liang said. "For almost two hours, I had no idea where my baby was." She went on to say, "I want to know when the problem occurred, when she died, and whether anyone checked her breathing or heartbeat." She added, "I want to know whether a veterinarian was called and what was done to try to save her."

"If evidence confirms the airline bears no responsibility, I will accept that too," she said, again calling for proof of what happened during those two hours.

As the controversy grew, Korean Air said on its official social media account Monday, "We offer our deepest condolences and sympathy to the customer who lost her beloved dog." The airline said, "When the door of KE 868, which departed from Guangzhou, was opened after arriving in Incheon, the dog was unfortunately found already dead inside its cage."

The airline added that other pets were also aboard the same flight. It said, "The onboard environment required for pet transport was properly maintained, and there were no health issues with the other animals."

It said, "We explained the dog's condition at the time it was found to the customer in detail on that same day, and we are currently reviewing the customer's additional inquiries." It added, "We will continue to actively communicate with the customer about this matter going forward."

Responding to Korean Air's statement, Liang said, "I cannot accept that the blame is being shifted onto my dog just because the onboard environment system operated normally and other pets arrived safely." She added, "I will not accuse the airline without evidence. I merely want to see proof of what happened to my dog during transport," repeating her demand.

Liang reportedly filed a formal complaint with Korean Air, requested compensation and asked the airline to preserve related evidence.

Meanwhile, according to Korean Air's website, pets weighing 7 kilograms or less, including their carrier, may travel in the cabin under certain conditions. Cargo hold transport is allowed for pets and carriers weighing up to 45 kilograms combined. The cargo hold allows for ventilation, temperature and lighting control. Brachycephalic breeds such as pugs and bulldogs, which face relatively higher risks of breathing difficulty or death during air travel, are restricted from cargo hold transport.


jshan@heraldcorp.com