Some passengers really tried to board flights with these wild companions.
Air travel has become a breeding ground for bizarre moments, but few are more mind-blowing than what some people consider emotional support animals. Airlines have cracked down in recent years, but before that, passengers brought the most unpredictable creatures into cramped cabins, claiming comfort and therapy as justification. Some of these choices will leave you shaking your head, while others are just plain hilarious.
It’s hard to believe these incidents actually happened, but they did—and they show just how blurry the line got between genuine need and sheer absurdity. While most travelers quietly settle in with a book or a neck pillow, others apparently feel incomplete without a miniature horse or a peacock in tow. Here are 11 of the most jaw-dropping support animals people actually tried to bring on airplanes.
1. A full-sized emotional support horse.
One traveler managed to get a miniature horse—yes, a horse—on board an actual commercial flight, as reported by Caitlin O’Kane at CBS News. While these horses are technically classified as service animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act, watching one calmly trot through the TSA line raised more than a few eyebrows. The horse was even fitted with a diaper for the flight. It may have been small for a horse, but it was still the size of a large dog with hooves and a tail that could swipe your drink off the tray table.
Airline staff were surprisingly cooperative, and passengers mostly stared in disbelief. The horse’s handler insisted it provided critical emotional support and had been thoroughly trained for public transportation. Still, a horse inside a pressurized cabin doesn’t exactly scream comfort to the rest of us. This animal may have technically met the requirements, but the logistics of fitting it into an airplane row were nothing short of chaotic brilliance.
2. A peacock that strutted into an airport like royalty.
A woman in Newark tried to board a United flight with her peacock, Dexter, perched on her shoulder like a scene out of a bizarre indie film, Brigit Katz of Smithsonian Magazine mentioned. She claimed it was her emotional support animal and had even purchased a ticket for the bird. Unfortunately for her, United Airlines was not having it. Dexter and his extravagant feathers were denied boarding, but not before dozens of people took photos and posted the spectacle online.
Peacocks are loud, territorial, and not exactly known for being calming companions. Dexter’s owner insisted he traveled with her everywhere and helped manage her anxiety. The idea of that giant bird flapping around a tightly packed plane cabin left most people stunned. While she walked away disappointed, the internet had a field day with memes and jokes that lived on long after Dexter’s wings were clipped.
3. A squirrel that nearly caused a flight delay.
A woman boarded a Frontier Airlines flight in Orlando with what she called her emotional support squirrel, according to Amy Held at NPR.org. She didn’t alert the airline ahead of time, and when staff discovered the furry stowaway, chaos followed. The flight crew asked her to leave, but she refused, leading to police being called and the entire plane having to deboard.
Passengers were forced to wait while the woman was escorted off, squirrel in hand, protesting loudly. Frontier Airlines stated their policy clearly bans rodents, no matter how emotionally comforting they might be. It wasn’t just the unexpected guest that caused a stir—it was how fiercely the woman fought to keep her bushy-tailed companion with her. It turned a simple flight into a social media spectacle and made it very clear that squirrels aren’t considered support animal material.
4. A duck with a diaper and red shoes.
Daniel the duck made headlines when he waddled onto a Delta flight in 2016 wearing a diaper and tiny red shoes. His owner claimed he helped her manage PTSD, and the airline, which still allowed a wide variety of emotional support animals at the time, approved him for travel. Passengers didn’t quite know what to make of it, especially when Daniel quacked softly during the flight and walked down the aisle like he owned it.
Despite the oddness, Daniel behaved better than most humans on planes. His calm demeanor and comical outfit won over fellow travelers, with many snapping photos and chatting with the owner mid-flight. The duck even looked out the window at cruising altitude, as if contemplating life choices. As bizarre as it sounds, Daniel might be one of the more well-behaved emotional support animals to ever flap his way onto a plane.
5. A snake that never made it past TSA.
One passenger tried sneaking a snake onboard as an emotional support animal, which predictably didn’t fly—literally or figuratively. The person argued that the reptile was tame and helped calm their anxiety, but airport security wasn’t buying it. The TSA stopped the snake handler at the security checkpoint, and the serpent was promptly removed from the travel lineup.
While some snakes are harmless, the idea of a loose boa constrictor or python slithering under your seat is nightmare fuel for most passengers. Even if it stayed in a container, the potential freak-out from an unsuspecting traveler spotting a flickering tongue from the next row over was too much risk. Emotional support or not, this reptilian companion had to slither back home, grounded by logic and airline policy.
6. A turkey that strutted through the terminal.
In what looked like a weird Thanksgiving-themed prank, a woman brought her support turkey to the airport, complete with a harness and carrier. And believe it or not, the bird made it on board. This wasn’t just a stunt—it was a serious request backed by paperwork. The turkey calmly sat in a seat, occasionally pecking at snacks and staring down fellow passengers.
Photos went viral, and reactions ranged from horrified to wildly amused. Turkeys are heavy birds, and not exactly known for grace or cleanliness, but this one remained mostly chill. Still, no one could really understand why someone would choose a farm animal associated with holiday dinners as an emotional support buddy. It may have worked for her, but the rest of the cabin likely questioned their entire reality during that flight.
7. A kangaroo that bounced right into controversy.
In 2018, a man tried bringing his baby kangaroo onto a plane, claiming it was his emotional support animal. He had a vest for it and a leash, but the airline wasn’t convinced. Once photos hit the internet, the situation escalated into a debate about boundaries, needs, and common sense. While the kangaroo was undeniably adorable, the idea of it hopping down the aisle mid-turbulence raised safety concerns.
Kangaroos can be unpredictable, even the small ones. They’re strong, fast, and not particularly easy to contain in a confined space. The man’s argument centered around emotional dependence, but airline staff drew the line there. The kangaroo had to say goodbye at the gate, and the man boarded solo, looking more forlorn than comforted. Still, it gave everyone at the airport a story they’d never forget.
8. A pig that squealed its way off the flight.
A woman brought a large pig on board a U.S. Airways flight, claiming it helped her manage emotional distress. Things seemed okay at first—until the pig started squealing and wandering up and down the aisle. It weighed about 70 pounds, which is not exactly lap-pet territory. Within minutes, other passengers were complaining about the smell and the disruption.
Eventually, flight attendants had enough. They asked the woman and her pig to leave the plane before takeoff. As the two walked back down the jet bridge, the pig continued squealing loudly, making a grand exit that passengers still talk about years later. Emotional support or not, a pig on a plane is a gamble. This one didn’t pay off, and it probably inspired some of the tighter rules that came soon after.
9. A possum that barely avoided a midair panic.
One traveler brought a possum in a small pouch and claimed it helped her cope with social anxiety. While the animal was relatively quiet and stayed tucked away, a flight attendant spotted it and alerted the captain. After a brief onboard discussion, the woman was asked to deplane with her nocturnal friend before the plane left the gate.
Possums are not common pets, and definitely not traditional therapy animals. They’re also marsupials with a tendency to freeze or play dead when scared, which would’ve been unsettling to nearby passengers. The woman protested that the possum was harmless and therapeutic, but airline rules overruled her. It might’ve seemed like a small comfort to her, but to the rest of the plane, it was a weird gamble on high-altitude peace.
10. A goat that made it through the first checkpoint.
Goats are generally more at home on a farm than an airplane, but that didn’t stop one person from trying. The goat was reportedly calm and leashed, wearing a vest that labeled it as an emotional support animal. Airport staff didn’t immediately turn them away, likely out of disbelief more than approval. But when they got to the gate, reality hit.
Goats are known for their noise, smell, and unpredictable bathroom habits—not ideal for enclosed aircraft. The passenger was informed that the goat couldn’t fly, emotional support status or not. Disappointed but undeterred, they left without a scene. The goat seemed fine with skipping the trip, but nearby passengers were visibly relieved. There’s a line between therapy and theater, and this one stomped all over it.
11. A tarantula that creeped out the cabin crew.
A man once attempted to bring his tarantula on a flight, claiming it was his calming companion. The spider was in a small case, quiet and low-key—but when a flight attendant spotted it, they weren’t amused. Several crew members were reportedly freaked out by the idea of an eight-legged creature being so close to passengers. The man was told he couldn’t bring the spider into the cabin, no matter how comforting he claimed it to be.
Tarantulas may be harmless in many cases, but the fear factor is real. Even knowing the spider was contained wasn’t enough to settle nerves. The man was frustrated but eventually complied. He didn’t understand the fuss, but for most people, a hairy arachnid on board is the stuff of nightmares. His support animal stayed grounded, and the rest of the passengers breathed easier.