Dogs are more than pets—they’re family, our loyal protectors who’d face anything for us. But sometimes, even our four-legged angels need saving. This story is about such a moment, where a flight turned into a life-saving mission.
Michele Burt, her husband Steven, and their three dogs were on a JetBlue flight from Florida to Massachusetts. For them, it was supposed to be a regular trip—they’d done it many times before. Their pups, snug in carriers under the seats, were following all the rules. But shortly after takeoff, Michele noticed something was very wrong with Darcy, her French bulldog.
Darcy was breathing heavily, her tiny body visibly struggling. Worried, Michele unzipped the carrier, breaking airline protocol, and checked on her. What she saw chilled her—Darcy’s tongue had turned blue, a clear sign of oxygen deprivation.
Panicked but determined, Michele lifted Darcy onto her lap to cool her down and calm her frantic breathing. As Michele focused on her dog, flight attendant Renaud Fenster noticed the situation. Initially, he reminded Michele about the airline’s strict rules for pets. But it didn’t take him long to realize this was an emergency.
Renaud, along with his colleague Diane Asher, jumped into action. They began by using ice packs to lower Darcy’s temperature. Unfortunately, that wasn’t enough.
That’s when Renaud had a bold idea. As a fellow French bulldog owner, he knew how delicate these breeds can be. Defying protocol, he fetched a small oxygen tank with a mask and carefully placed it on Darcy. Everyone held their breath as the mask delivered precious oxygen to the struggling pup.
To everyone’s relief, it worked. Darcy’s breathing steadied, her panic subsided, and color returned to her tongue. By the time the plane landed, she was back to her happy, tail-wagging self.
Michele was overwhelmed with gratitude. She later wrote a heartfelt letter to JetBlue, thanking Renaud and Diane for their heroic efforts. JetBlue responded with pride, sharing that their mission is “to inspire humanity” and celebrating the quick-thinking crew members who went above and beyond.
This heartwarming story is a reminder that kindness and courage can save lives—even at 30,000 feet.
Would you have done the same for Darcy? Share this story with your friends and fellow dog lovers—because heroes come in all forms, and sometimes they wear flight attendant uniforms!
