A California man is suing Alaska Airlines for alleged negligence after his beloved dog passed away during air travel. In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail, Michael ‘Mike’ Contillo shared the heartbreaking details of his experience.

On February 1, Contillo was traveling first class from New York to San Francisco with his father and their two French Bulldogs—three-year-old Ash and ten-year-old Kora. Just before boarding, they were unexpectedly asked to move from their original seats in row four to row eleven for safety reasons. Contillo expressed his concern that such a sudden change could pose health risks for his dogs, particularly prior to takeoff. Despite his protests, the family was compelled to comply with the seating change.

After the move, Contillo noticed Ash’s breathing had become rapid and labored, and his anxiety was palpable. However, Ash eventually settled down, and Contillo assumed he was simply asleep. It wasn’t until after takeoff that Contillo was informed the pet carrier needed to remain closed for the duration of the flight, preventing him from checking on Ash further.

Upon landing at San Francisco International Airport, Contillo was devastated to discover that Ash had died, with rigor mortis setting in. He recalled the flight lasted about five hours, with rigor mortis typically occurring around four hours post-mortem.

During the interview, Contillo reflected on the tragic situation, stating, “If we hadn’t been forced to change seats, my dog would have survived this flight. That’s why we bought first-class tickets in the first place, even paying extra for Ash to travel with us.” He accused Alaska Airlines of negligence and recklessness, questioning, “Who were they trying to protect with that seat change?”

Frustratingly, the airline did not refund the difference between the first-class and economy seats. As the product manager at the law firm LegalOn, Contillo shared the profound impact Ash’s death has had on him, causing significant emotional distress. In his lawsuit, he emphasized Ash’s special value, likening the dog to a child, and described Ash as a kind soul who loved life, stating, “I’ve never seen a dog so joyful.” Ten-year-old Kora remains healthy and lives with Contillo in San Francisco.