French bulldog dies on Alaska Airlines flight after downgrade to coach, lawsuit alleges

A French bulldog died on an Alaska Airlines flight from New York to San Francisco earlier this year after the pet and its owner were moved from first class to coach just before takeoff, a lawsuit alleges. 

The plaintiff, Michael Contillo, claims his nearly four-year-old French bulldog, Ash, died "as a direct and foreseeable consequence of the wrongful conduct" of the airline after he was moved to another part of the plane, according to the complaint.

Contillo had bought first-class seats for himself and his father on a February 2024 flight so that his two French bulldogs could board early and have more space, alleges the suit, which was filed in San Francisco County Superior Court on Oct. 16.