A United flight had to divert because a dog pooped in the aisle, and staff spent 2 hours cleaning it up

• A United Airlines flight left Houston on Friday but soon diverted to Dallas.
• A Reddit user said a dog pooped in the aisle next to the first-class bathroom.

A United Airlines flight had to divert because a dog pooped in the aisle of the plane, the airline confirmed to Business Insider.

Reddit user "gig_wizard" said they were on Flight 422 from Houston to Seattle on Friday when the incident occurred.

Data from Flightradar24 shows the Boeing 737 diverted to Dallas less than an hour after takeoff.

The Reddit user said the ground crew spent over two hours trying to clean the carpet with paper towels, and shared photos of the mess.

"The smell never quite went away," they added.

They also said it happened next to the first-class toilet, which was then deemed unusable. And that the time spent on the ground trying to deal with the problem meant the food on board went bad so there weren't many snacks left.

United Airlines confirmed the incident when contacted by Business Insider.

Last September, a Delta Air Lines flight had to turn around after a passenger appeared to poop in the aisle. The airline said it was a "medical issue" while the pilot said in an air traffic control recording it was a "biohazard."

This latest incident could spark questions about airlines' pet policies.

United doesn't allow passengers to bring their pets in the cabin on some international flights. But on domestic trips, it's OK so long as the dog or cat is in a carrier that fits under a seat. Service animals are allowed without a pet carrier.

The airline also recommends passengers traveling with pets bring a toy to keep them calm, as well as plastic bags in case of bathroom emergencies.