Passenger’s Dog Lost by Airline at World’s Busiest Airport

Paula Rodriguez is now living through this nightmare after her dog, Maia, was misplaced by airport staff at Atlanta airport, the busiest in the world. Paula was flying with Maia from the Dominican Republic to California for a two-week vacation on August 18.

Traveling with Delta Air Lines, Maia was in the cabin with Paula during her journey with a layover at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport before heading to San Francisco.

However, when they arrived in Atlanta on Friday evening, border force staff informed Paula that her tourist visa didn’t meet the requirements, so they canceled it. This meant she needed to return home on the next flight. As that flight wasn’t until the next day, Paula was directed to spend the night in a detention center, and unfortunately, Maia couldn’t stay with her.

“They called a Delta agent, who took Maia from me,” Paula told CNN. “I started asking questions about where she’d be spending the night, and told him she’d been in a lot of distress on the flight.”

The agent assured her that Maia would be cared for at a facility. Paula trusted Maia was in good hands and proceeded to the detention center. 

However, things took a tragic turn. When Paula was scheduled to leave for Punta Cana the next day, her flight was shifted an hour later. She hoped that Maia would be on the next flight. When she reached the gate, passengers were boarding, but Maia was not there.

Gate staff tried to find Maia but were unsuccessful. Paula was placed on a flight to Punta Cana without Maia, and attempts to locate her continued. 

Two days later, Paula was told by a Delta representative that Maia had escaped onto the runway while being transported. Despite efforts to catch her, she ran off. With her US visa canceled, Paula couldn’t return to the US to search for Maia. Her mother was sent to Atlanta to look for her, but no leads have emerged.

Paula’s agony continues as she waits for news about her beloved Maia, who may still be hiding in Atlanta’s massive airport. Delta and the airport are involved in search efforts, but the situation remains dire for Paula, who can’t bear the thought of her dog being lost and frightened.