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Rabbit destined to be world’s biggest dies on United Airlines jet

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Picture of Simon by Caters News Agency

United Airlines is facing fresh controversy after a potentially world’s biggest rabbit died suddenly on one of its planes.

Simon, a ten-month-old 3ft continental giant rabbit expected to weigh more than 2st 5lbs when fully grown, was bought by a mystery US celebrity buyer who paid more than £2,000 ($2565) to fly him from Heathrow to Chicago.

Annette Edwards, a breeder from Worcestershire, told the Sun that Simon was expected to grow to be the world’s biggest rabbit after his father Darius grew to 4ft 4in (1.32 metres).

Annette Edwards with the giant rabbit’s father, Darius. The death of the giant rabbit comes weeks after a passenger was dragged off a United Airlines flight. Photograph: Mcfadden/Rex/Shutterstock

Simon’s new owner is expected to sue because he paid £2,000 (close to $2565) for Simon’s flight, £85 ($109) vet bill and £300 ($384.9) for Simon himself.

According to the Breeder: “Simon had a vet’s check-up three hours before the flight and was fit as a fiddle. “Something very strange has happened and I want to know what.

She further said that she has previously sent rabbits all around the world and nothing like this has ever happened.

The death of Simon comes less than three weeks after a video showing a passenger being dragged off a United Express flight sparked widespread outrage.

The Airline caused a public uproar after videos of three police officers dragging a passenger off an overbooked plane were posted online and went viral.

The videos, posted on Twitter and Facebook by two passengers, Jayse D. Anspach and Audra D. Bridges, show a man being forcibly pulled out of his seat and dragged through the plane, his glasses askew, as passengers exclaim in shock.
The incident apparently occurred on United Flight 3411 before it departed from Chicago O’Hare International Airport for Louisville, Kentucky on Sunday.
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