Report: Giant Rabbit May Have Died in Freezer on United Flight

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A 3-foot giant rabbit that died last month following a United Airlines flight from London may have mistakenly been placed in a freezer by airline employees, a Des Moines attorney announced Monday, reports the Des Moines Register (DMR).

A Continental Giant rabbit named Simon was purchased by an Iowa-based ownership group with hopes that he could win the Iowa State Fair’s biggest rabbit contest in August and be used to help raise money for the fair and its Blue Ribbon Foundation, reports DMR.

Unfortunately, the rabbit would never get that chance as he was found dead following a United flight from London to Chicago.

Des Moines trial attorney Guy Cook announced at a press conference on Monday that the owners are demanding an independent investigation into Simon’s death. At least one airline employee has reportedly said that Simon may have been inadvertently locked in a freezer for up to 16 hours after arriving in Chicago, according to DMR.

Additionally, the rabbit was cremated by United following its death, making an autopsy to determine what exactly happened impossible, Cook said. That action by the airline was tantamount to “destroying evidence” in the case, he said. The airline cremated the remains without the permission of the ownership group, he said.

“Whatever the cause of Simon’s death may be, Simon died in the care of United Airlines’ and its decision to destroy his remains establishes a reckless disregard for the Simon Group’s rights and are indicative of the negligent care United Airlines provided Simon,” a demand letter from the attorney reads.

According to DMR, the ownership group is also seeking for United Airlines to to pay for the purchase price of the rabbit, shipping costs and the “economic loss” of the rabbit’s death. The demand letter gives United seven days to respond before a lawsuit is filed.

British rabbit breeder Annette Edwards, who told the Sun newspaper that Simon had a check-up with a vet three hours before the flight and was “fit as a fiddle.”

“Something very strange has happened and I want to know what,” Edwards told the newspaper. “I’ve sent rabbits all around the world and nothing like this has happened before.”

PETA has criticized United, saying the rabbit’s death “is not unique.” It said “more than 300 animals have died in cargo holds since 2005, and many more have been been injured or lost,” reports DMR.

The rabbit incident comes on the heels of major public relations problems for United Airlines, after a video surfaced of the airlines forcibly removing a customer from an aircraft, after the airline overbooked the flight.