Texas Family Claims Dog Died While Riding in Cargo Hold of United Airlines Flight

This tragic incident comes just months after the death of Simon the rabbit on another United flight

Photo: FG/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images

Only a few months after Simon the rabbit, destined to be the world’s largest rabbit, died in the cargo hold of a United Airlines flight, a Houston, Texas, family is claiming that their dog died while flying with the airline.

According to KTRK, who first reported the story, the family says their 5-year-old King Charles Spaniel, Lulu, died in the cargo hold of a United Airlines plane following a delay. The plane containing the now deceased dog was held on the tarmac for two hours before taking off for San Francisco.

The family says it was during these two hours on the ground that their beloved pet died.

PEOPLE reached out to United Airlines for comment and received the following statement, in which United says it is looking into the incident and confirms Lulu’s death.

“We are so sorry to learn of Lulu’s passing and have reached out to our customer to offer our condolences and assistance. We are deeply upset any time an animal suffers an injury while traveling with us and especially grieved in the rare instance that one passes away. We are conducting a thorough review of this incident.”

According to the U.S. Transportation Department’s consumer report from April 2017, United Airlines has one of the worst rankings when it comes to pet treatment. The report found that 53 animals died on United flights from January 2012 through February 2017.