2023-08-07 15:49:36
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (CNN) – A bear that was being transported in the cargo cage escaped on board an Iraqi Airways passenger flight, heading from the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, Friday, causing the flight to be delayed. .
Iraqi Airways said in a statement it shared with CNN that the bear was anesthetized by a specialized team in Dubai and removed from the plane.
Iraqi Airways issued an apology on Saturday, saying the bear had escaped from the cage “immediately upon its arrival at Dubai airport”.
Iraqi Airways added, in a statement seen by CNN, that “the company apologizes to the passengers on the flight, from Baghdad International Airport to Dubai Airport, for reasons beyond the company’s control.” And the statement added, “The delay occurred due to a shipment in the cargo cage.”
“Upon arrival at Dubai Airport, the animal escaped from the cage designated for shipment,” the statement said, adding that it was transported in line with international guidelines for animal welfare.
The crew of the plane coordinated with the UAE authorities, who sent a specialized team to anesthetize the bear and remove it from the plane. The statement stated: “After examining the plane, and making sure that there were no damages from this accident, the flight returned to Baghdad.”
The airline did not disclose the reason for transporting the bear to the Emirates, or information about the condition of the bear after it was drugged and removed from the plane.
Iraqi Airways issued an apology, after a video clip, filmed by a passenger on the plane, went viral on social media. The passenger was heard saying that the return flight from Dubai to Baghdad was delayed by “more than an hour because of a bear in the cargo”.
In another video clip circulating online and in Iraqi media, the bear cub appears to be wandering out of its crate on the plane, while passengers caress and try to calm it.
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