Anac initiates proceedings to investigate the death of a dog on a GOL flight

Anac (National Civil Aviation Agency) initiated this Wednesday (April 24, 2024) an administrative proceeding against GOL Linhas Aéreas to investigate the reasons that led to the death of a golden retriever dog. The company has 3 days to provide information about the case.

The dog, called Joca, was 5 years old and was transported to the wrong destination by the airline. The animal had to travel to Sinop, in Mato Grosso, but was taken by the airline to Fortaleza and then brought back to São Paulo, where it was pronounced dead.

“Anac requested from GOL, among other information, details about the conditions for transporting the animal, its sending to a location other than the contracted one and the conditions for providing this type of service. The objective is to open an inspection process based on the findings.”reported the regulatory agency.

The decision to initiate the investigative process occurred after an emergency meeting between the CEO of Anac, Tiago Pereira, and the Minister of Ports and Airports, Silvio Costa Filho.

In your profile on X (formerly Twitter), Costa Filho paid his condolences to the animal’s owner and said he intends to seek support from Congress to build stricter laws that can prevent further incidents of this type.

O Power360 He contacted Anac to find out what punishments this administrative process could entail for GOL, but received no response until the publication of this report.

Suspension of sales and restriction of service

The death of the dog during transport back to São Paulo caused GOL to suspend the sale of animal transport services in the hold of its aircraft for 30 days.

Customers who have already contracted the service can request a refund or request to postpone the trip until after May 23rd. The company reported that the animal transport service in the plane’s cabin is maintained.

Here is the full note:

“In order to fully dedicate itself to completing the investigation process of this event, GOL suspended for 30 days (from this Wednesday, 24/04 until 23/05) the sale of the dog and cat transportation service by GOLLOG Animals and by the Dog&Cat + Espaço product, for trips carried out in the aircraft hold. The Dog&Cat Cabin service, for Customers who take their pets in the aircraft cabin, will not undergo any changes.

“For Customers who contracted the transportation of their pet between 04/24/24 and 05/23/24 through services that are restricted, they may opt for a full refund, including the value of their ticket (in the case of Dog&Cat + Espaço), or by postponing the trip, free of charge, until after 05/23/24 on flights until 12/31/2024.

“Those Customers who are at the destination of their trip and have one of the restricted services contracted for the return trip will be served if they wish.”