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Spirit Airlines flight delayed at Hopkins Airport after note found relating to viral incident

The note related to an incident where a woman says Spirit Airlines told her to flush her hamster down an airport toilet because it wasn't allowed to fly with her.

A Spirit Airlines flight was delayed Saturday morning at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport after a note was found in the aircraft's bathroom.

Hopkins officials say Flight 711 was swept by law enforcement this morning before taking off for Tampa. The delay lasted for just over an hour.

TSA agents wouldn't go into detail about what the note actually said, but officials say it's all connected to an incident that went viral last week. A Florida woman says Spirit told her to flush her hamster down an airport toilet because the emotional support rodent wasn't allowed to fly with her.

Spirit acknowledged that an employee did incorrectly tell the woman that her hamster could accompany her but denies that one of its employees told her to kill the animal.

Emotional-support animals — and what rights passengers have to bring them on planes — have been a nagging issue for airlines. In recent weeks, Delta and United airlines revised their policies about such animals and adopted stricter rules and requirements.

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