Pet Dog Dies Due to Airline Transport Error... "Couldn't Drink Water for 8 Hours"

Brazilian Gol Airlines Admits Fault
President Lula Orders Measures to Prevent Recurrence

A pet dog mistakenly sent to a different airport due to an airline's error was trapped in a cage for 8 hours and died.

A pet dog named 'Joca' and its owner Jo?o Fantacini who died after being sent to a different airport due to an airline's mistake [Photo by Jo?o Fantacini SNS capture]

On the 24th (local time), Brazilian media including Folha de S.Paulo reported that Jo?o Fantacini, who tried to travel on Gol Airlines with his pet dog, lost his dog due to the airline's mistake.

Fantacini was originally scheduled to travel from Guarulhos International Airport in S?o Paulo, Brazil, to Sinop Municipal Airport in Mato Grosso state. His pet dog Joca, a 5-year-old Golden Retriever, was placed in a cage and boarded on the plane.

However, due to the airline's error, the dog was sent not to the intended destination but to Fortaleza International Airport in Cear? state, about 3 hours and 30 minutes away. The airline later realized the mistake and sent Fantacini's dog back to S?o Paulo. During the round trip of 8 hours, the dog was confined in the cage without water and eventually died of cardiac arrest.

Upon hearing the news, the owner Fantacini rushed back to S?o Paulo and was reported to be speechless while stroking the fur of his already deceased dog. He posted on his social media with a photo of his dog, saying, "My love, my best choice, the love of my life was killed," and "Please forgive my selfishness for wanting you by my side."

The living image of the pet 'Joca' who died after being sent to a different airport due to the airline's mistake.
[Photo by Jo?o Fantacini SNS capture]

Gol Airlines of Brazil issued a statement acknowledging their mistake led to the death of the pet dog. The airline said, "We empathize with and understand the pain of the deceased dog, the owner, and their family," and "We deeply regret the loss of the pet."

They added, "The company has been providing all necessary support since the early stages of the incident," and "A thorough investigation into the circumstances of the accident is our top priority." Furthermore, they stated, "We have stopped transporting animals as cargo but allow pets to fly in the cabin with their owners."

The President of Brazil also expressed sorrow over the incident. Luiz In?cio Lula da Silva attended a press conference wearing a tie with a dog pattern and urged the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) and Gol Airlines to prevent recurrence.