(AP) United said Tuesday that it took full responsibility for the incident on the Monday night flight from Houston to New York.
In a statement, United called it “a tragic accident that should never have occurred, as pets should never be placed in the overhead bin.”
The dog was in a small pet carrier designed to fit under an airline seat.
Passengers reported that they heard barking during the flight and didn’t know that the dog had died until the plane landed at LaGuardia Airport.
Twitter user Magg Gremminger was a passenger on the flight, and took a photo of the dead dog upon deplaning, which has since been deleted.
She posted about the ordeal:
— MaggieGremminger (@MaggieGrem) March 14, 2018
I want to help this woman and her daughter. They lost their dog because of an @united flight attendant. My heart is broken. pic.twitter.com/mjXYAhxsAq
— MaggieGremminger (@MaggieGrem) March 13, 2018