Smell It Or Be Delayed: Pilot Holds Pre-Flight Vote After Dog Urinates On Plane

Published Oct 28, 2026, 10:12 AM EDT A graduate in German, Jake has a passion for history and regional aviation, and enjoys sampling new carriers and aircraft. He has visited OEM facilities as far and wide as Bristol, Toulouse, and Seattle, and recently enjoyed the milestone of flying his 150th sector as a passenger. Based in Norfolk, UK. Footage that recently emerged on social media highlighted a curious occurrence at an airport before a flight. According to coverage of the matter by View From The Wing, the viral clip was shared by TV host Jennifer Coffey and appears to take place at a Delta Air Lines gate at LaGuardia Airport (LGA) in New York City. The incident in question concerns passengers voting on whether to delay the flight. The reason for this, as explained by the flight's pilot, was allegedly the fact that, on the aircraft's previous service, a dog had urinated in the cabin, and cleaning the mess would delay the next flight's departure. With this in mind, the passengers were given the option of leaving on time without the mess being cleaned, and the subsequent discourse on social media has shown it to be a divisive subject. An Unusual Preflight Vote Credit: rthoma | Shutterstock Coffey explained that the flight in question was not hers but that "a pilot just came out and announced that a dog had relieved himself on the plane during the last flight." According to Coffey, the pilot allegedly then went on to say that "he could either order a cleaning or depart on time with the cabin smelling like dog urine." With this in mind, he asked for a show of hands to see how many flyers minded. Coffey's clip was only a short one, and so, while it shows passengers raising their hands in response to a verbal prompt, the ultimate outcome of this strange vase of democracy in action remains unclear. In any case, the video quickly amassed views and got people talking, with Coffey saying that she "had no idea this would be such a divisive video." The comments under it were certainly a mixed bag. Some argued that they would be happy to depart on time despite the smell, as, in their experience, some human passengers are also not the most hygienic. They also sympathized with what was an accident on the dog's part. Others said that they would want a new aircraft and even a refund, although, given the limited details on offer, it remains unclear as to whether a plane swap would have been possible. Something Of A Recurring Issue Credit: EQRoy | Shutterstock As it happens, this is not the first time that a dog doing what ot has to do has caused controversy on a flight or at an airport in the United States of America in recent times. Just last month, reports emerged of Southwest Airlines passengers having to step over an 'enormous' stinking mess covered in paper towels while disembarking the aircraft after a large service dog defecated all over the floor of the jet. While the Belgian Malinois was flying to assist a passenger, it was not in a carrier at the time of the incident. Furthermore, as the mess was deposited in a bulkhead row at the front of the aircraft, all of the flight's passengers had to pass the mess when getting off. Despite the alarming nature of the incident, flight tracking data suggested that the jet was back in the air just over an hour after its initial arrival. Further back, November 2025 saw another story involving Southwest Airlines and a defecating dog, this time at an airport check-in desk. As reported by Simple Flying at the time, a passenger's service dog was allegedly prevented from boarding a flight amid reports that it had left a mess at the service desk. However, with no evidence provided to back these claims up, the flyer accused the airline of gaslighting. The Rules On Flying With Dogs In The US Credit: Tsuguliev | Shutterstock When it comes to taking dogs on aircraft in the US, the Department of Transportation highlights a clear distinction between service dogs and pets. As service animals help facilitate travel for individuals with disabilities, the DOT notes that "airlines are required to recognize dogs as service animals and accept them for transport on flights to, within and from the US" if they have the right paperwork. However, they may be denied access in certain circumstances, such as if the service dog is deemed to pose a safety threat due to its size and/or behavior. Pet dogs, on the other hand, are subject to size, weight, and age restrictions that dictate whether they can be flown in the hold of the plane or, in certain cases, the cabin. If flying in the cabin, pet dogs cannot occupy certain seats, such as bulkheads or exit rows.