Heartbreaking moment man finds out his dog has died on airplane journey gone wrong

A man went through any pet-owner's worst nightmare when he found out his beloved dog had died at an airport terminal after going for hours without water.

João Fantazzini was in Sinop, a city in the west-central Brazilian state of Mato Gross, separated from his pooch, who was in São Paulo, over 1600km (994 miles) away.

The loving owner paid to have his five-year-old emotional support dog flown on a Gol Airlines flight over, which should have been a straight forward journey from São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport to Sinop Municipal Airport on Monday, 22 April.

The Golden Retriever was named Joca, and instead of flying straight to his owner, the airline mistakenly put him on a separate flight to Fortaleza International Airport, in the northeast of the country.

Joca was meant to be on a straight-forward flight from Sinop to Sao Paulo. (Media Drum World)

Flying for three and a half hours, the dog was given some water while he waited to be put on another flight back to São Paulo, as he spent almost 90 minutes on the runway in the scorching South American heat.

Joca then went another three and a half hours without water in the air before landing back in São Paulo.

Fantazzini was waiting there to meet his beloved dog where a manager told him about their error and that the dog had fallen ill.

But by the time that a manager had brought the man to the waiting area, he claimed that Joca was already dead, as a heartbreaking video showed him stroking the loyal pet as it laid behind the kennel door.

According to Joca's death certificate, he had died due to cardiac arrest.

Fantazzini mourned in an Instagram post, writing: "My love was murdered, my best choice, love of my life. You were very young!!

"I remember the day I got you and our connection was momentary! My son, forgive me for being selfish in wanting you by my side!"

By the time the owner saw his dog, he had tragically died. (Media Drum World)

He emotionally concluded: "You are the love of my life forever! I will miss you daily! I miss giving you your apple every morning, taking you to the pool and taking care of yourself daily! Thank you for everything my friend!"

Since the tragic event, Airline Gol said in a statement to Metropoles that an 'operational failure' caused the dog's death.

They stated: "GOL sympathizes with the suffering of Joca's guardian and his family. We understand his pain and are deeply sorry for the loss of your pet.

"The Company is offering all necessary support to the tutor and his family from the outset. The investigation of the details of what happened is being carried out with total priority by our team."

Gol has since suspended the transportation of animals in the cargo section, which Joca was, but is allowing them to fly in the cabin alongside their owners.

Fantazzini loved his dog dearly. (Media Drum World)

The head of the Ports and Airports Ministry in Brazil, Silvio Costa Silva, said that his department joined the National Civil Aviation Agency during the investigation.

The matter became so big, in fact, that the President of Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, brought it up during a press conference while wearing a tie with prints of a dog to show his support.

He said: "The dog died because he spent eight hours without drinking water, trapped inside the plane.

"I think Gol has to be accountable. I think ANAC (National Civil Aviation Agency) has to monitor this, and I think we cannot allow this to continue happening in Brazil."

LADbible has contacted Gol Airlines for further comment.