A woman who tried to take an “emotional support peacock” on a flight was turned away by an airline staff. The passenger was told she could not travel with the bird – which she had brought to Newark airport in the US – due to health and safety fears.
New York-based photographer and artist Ventiko said she had bought a ticket for the peacock Dexter in order that it had its own seat on a flight from Newark to Los Angeles on Saturday.
Pictures posted online showed the peacock perched on top of a luggage trolley as fellow passengers looked on in bewilderment. But United Airlines said the peacock could not be allowed to board due to its size and weight.
Airlines have sometimes allowed passengers to travel with animals to help keep them calm on board, if they have emotional or psychiatric problems.
But the number of animals being brought aboard planes under this system has increased significantly in recent years, triggering fears people could be abusing the system.