I’m sorry, but you are wrong about that. Our family has a service animal. As such, service animals are walked off the plane on leashes for potty breaks in the grass specifically designated for this use at airports.
Also, Delta Dash places crated dogs on the tarmac and their cutomers are warned to be sure to have their name and address attached to the dog, as well as the crate, due to the dogs sometimes escaping their crates and running lose on the tarmac. Airport personnel do know to watch for animals.
This is not the picture I have formed in my mind about how this accident happened. I know that Travolta is a private pilot with advanced expertise. Travolta essentially flies his own private jets — some of them quite large, commercial-size jets.
While this accident may have happened at a commercial airport, it may not have happened anywhere near the commercial terminals, but rather near a general aviation service ramp where private aircraft are fueled & serviced.
If I’m right, Travolta’s jet was parked & the ramp-door dropped before the service trucks arrived. People & dogs could have been debarked before anyone arrived.
A service dog may have had a chance at self-control in a strange airport environment, but most dogs are not that steady. If their handler’s attention lapsed it’s easy to see how a service truck could strike these dogs, leashed or not.
My $0.02