7 puppies die on American Airlines flight

The puppies were among 14 that were traveling from Tulsa, Oklahoma to Chicago. Flight 851 left Tulsa at 7:30 a.m. and arrived at O’Hare around 9 a.m. the airline confirmed.  

Five of the young pups died on board and two died later on at a veterinarian's office.

(...) Carter Dillard, director of litigation at the Animal Legal Defense Fund, said the FAA and USDA should also investigate the incident.

According to the ALDF, animal deaths by airplane are unfortunately common. Since May of 2005, there have been 142 reported deaths.

"We don't recommend pets traveling that way," Lisa Franzetta, director of communications for the ALDF, said. "The cargo areas are not temperature controlled, and especially in the winter and summer months, they can be uninhabitable."