Rabbit set to be world’s biggest mysteriously dies on United Airlines flight

United Airlines is facing another PR nightmare after a rabbit destined to be the world’s biggest reportedly died on a flight from Heathrow to Chicago’s O'Hare International Airport. The rabbit, Simon, which measured at three-feet, was expected to outgrow his father Darius, whose length of 4ft 4in made him the world's biggest bunny .
The 10-month-old continental giant rabbit was being sent to his new celebrity owner, whose identity hasn’t been revealed.

“Simon had a vet’s check-up three hours before the flight and was fit as a fiddle,” breeder Annette Edwards, of Stoulton, Worcs, told The Sun .

“Something very strange has happened and I want to know what. I’ve sent rabbits all around the world and nothing like this has happened before.”

The animal was found dead when it arrived at O’Hare.

"We were saddened to hear this news,” a United Airlines spokeswoman said, according to the Mirror.

"The safety and wellbeing of all the animals that travel with us is of the utmost importance to United Airlines and our PetSafe team.

"We have been in contact with our customer and have offered assistance. We are reviewing this matter."

Ms Edwards, a former glamour model whose rabbits are said to be hired out at £500 a time, said  the new owner in the US are considering legal action against the airline, the Sun reported.

Darius, the Guinness World Record holder for world’s biggest rabbit, weighs three-and-a-half stone and costs his owner about £2,400 per year in food alone. His mother Alice held the record before him and Simon was expected to continue the family tradition.