Emotional support dog 'bites child' on Southwest Airlines flight in US

An emotional support dog injured a child on board a flight in the United States.

The dog's teeth "scraped the child's forehead" as the passenger approached it after boarding a Southwest Airlines flight from Phoenix to Oregon, the airline said.

A passenger on board the plane, Todd Rice, shared the incident on Twitter alongside a photo of a dog on the plane.

He wrote in the tweet, which appears to have been deleted: “@SouthwestAir flight 1904 allows a support dog on the plane, bites kid, paramedics now on plane. Why are dogs on the plane?! Never again will I fly SWA.”

Responding to his tweet, Southwest said: “We appreciate your concern and sharing this information with us, Todd. We assure you that safety is our top priority and are addressing the situation.”

A spokeswoman for the airline said paramedics checked the girl, who was around 6 or 7 years old, before the family continued on the flight.

The dog and its owner left and took a later flight, she added.

According to the airline, the owner had warned the girl not to approach his dog.

It came as US airlines began considering new restrictions on passengers flying with emotional support animals.

Starting next week, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines will require more paperwork and assurances from owners of support animals.

Southwest started reviewing its policy before Wednesday's incident, the airline said.