American Eagle Flight Diverts to Colorado Springs After In-Flight Dog Bite Incident
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On April 15, 2025, an American Eagle flight operating between Provo Municipal Airport (PVU) and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) was forced to divert to Colorado Springs Airport (COS) after a service dog bit a passenger mid-flight. The incident required medical attention and a temporary ground stop.
Flight Details and Diversion Timeline
The flight in question was American Airlines flight AA4980, operated by SkyWest Airlines on behalf of American Eagle using a Bombardier CRJ-700 aircraft, registration N767SK.
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Departure: PVU at 2:02 PM local time
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Cruising Altitude: 37,000 feet
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Diversion Initiated: Over eastern Colorado
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Landing at COS: 3:28 PM local time
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Time on Ground: Approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes
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Resumed Journey: Departed COS at 4:39 PM
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Final Arrival at DFW: 7:31 PM local time (originally scheduled for 5:05 PM)
After landing in Colorado Springs, emergency medical personnel transported the injured passenger to a local hospital. The nature of the injury and the condition of the passenger have not been publicly disclosed, though the diversion indicates it required urgent care.
Context: Service Animals and Air Travel Policy
While the airline has not provided public comment regarding the type of service dog involved, the broader issue of psychiatric service animals and their growing presence in aircraft cabins has become a matter of ongoing debate in U.S. aviation policy.
Previously, airlines were required to accept emotional support animals (ESAs) in cabins with minimal certification. This loophole was closed by the U.S. Department of Transportation in 2021, but was quickly replaced by provisions allowing self-certified psychiatric service animals—which still do not always require the same rigorous training as traditional service animals (e.g., guide dogs for the visually impaired).
This incident raises further concerns about the safety of untrained or insufficiently trained animals in confined environments such as aircraft cabins. Though such cases remain rare, when they do occur, they typically involve psychiatric service animals rather than formally trained, task-specific service dogs.
Bottom Line
American Eagle flight AA4980 from Provo (PVU) to Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) diverted to Colorado Springs (COS) on April 15, 2025, after a passenger was bitten by a service dog onboard. The affected traveler was transported to a hospital, and the flight resumed approximately one hour later, landing in Dallas nearly 2.5 hours behind schedule. The incident underscores the ongoing challenges airlines face in balancing passenger accessibility and onboard safety when it comes to service animals in flight.
