Pigs can't fly: Passenger escorted off US flight after 80-pound 'emotional support' hog is disruptive

'This was not a small pig,' fellow passenger claimed

An 80-pound pig brought on to a US flight for “emotional support” was asked to leave after the animal squealed and defecated in the aisle of the plane.

Twitter user Rob Phelps snapped the offending animal and its owner as they left the American Airlines flight from Hartlford, Connecticut, to Washington’s Reagon Airport.

Mr Phelps, 65, told the MailOnline that passengers watched in shock as the animal, brought on for “emotional support”, had to be coaxed down the aisle as it emitted squeals “three times louder than a child”.

“It was ridiculous,” he said. “It started to smell and flight attendants told her to clean the mess up.”

The owner of the pig, named Hobie, was permitted to bring the animal on to the flight under new guidelines released by the Department for Transport.

Mr Phelps, who was with his wife at the time, said the woman spoke to Hobie as if he were human, repeatedly calling him a “jerk” for misbehaving.

“There was instant silence. There was a mixture of controllable laughter and shock,” he said when passengers saw the pig. “You couldn't write this.

“I have seen dogs and cats in cages on a plane - but never a pig.

“This was not a small pig. When she held it over her shoulder it reached her waist.

“I don't even know how it got through. You have the TSA and intense security and yet it still was let on board.”

Fellow passenger Jonathan Skolnik, a University of Massachusetts professor who was on the flight, told ABC News he initially thought the pig was a “duffel bag.”

After the woman made for the empty seat beside him, Mr Skolnik realised what he was in for.

“I was terrified, because I was thinking I'm gonna be on the plane with the pig,” he said.

An American Airlines spokesperson confirmed that although passengers are allowed to bring animals, including monkeys, on board as emotional support. They confirmed to ABC News a passenger was asked to leave after her pig became disruptive.