An airline has apologised for delays caused after a bear broke out of its cage in the cargo hold of a plane.
A viral clip showed the plane’s captain explaining to passengers waiting on the tarmac at Dubai airport that the delay to take-off was because of the bear’s break for freedom on Friday.
An airline worker is seen calmly stroking the head of the brown bear as it roams from side to side in the hold. The beast was sedated and taken off the plane as passengers complained of the delay.
The Iraqi prime minister has demanded an investigation despite Iraqi Airways insisting procedures to transport the bear were carried out with standards approved by the International Air Transport Association.
The bear got out of the cage and caused a delay in the Dubai-Baghdad flight. pic.twitter.com/Z0kzUjgtnh
— Kcee Longest (@KceeLongest) August 6, 2023
“The company apologises to the passengers of the flight from Baghdad International Airport to Dubai Airport for reasons beyond the control of the company,” the airline said in a statement on its website.
“The delay happened because of a shipment in the cargo hold.
“Upon arrival to Dubai Airport, the animal escaped the crate specified for its shipment.”
The statement said the bear was being transported in line with international animal welfare guidelines.
“The plane crew co-ordinated with UAE’s authority who sent a specialised team to sedate the animal and take it off the plane,” it continued.
“After checking the plane and making sure there is no damage from this incident the flight returned to Baghdad.”
The airline did not comment on why the bear was being transported to the UAE or any further information on its well-being.
Keeping predatory animals as pets in Iraq — especially in Baghdad — has become popular among the wealthy.
Authorities have struggled to enforce legal provisions to protect wild animals. Baghdad’s police has previously called on citizens to assist authorities in preventing such animals from being let loose on the city’s streets or ending up as exotic meals in restaurant by reporting such cases.
It came as a zoo in eastern China was forced to deny some of its bears might be people in costumes after photos of the animals standing like humans were shared online.
The sun bears from Malaysia are smaller than other bears and look different but are the real thing, the Hangzhou Zoo said Monday on its social media account.
In posts on its official WeChat account and in interviews with local media, the zoo said the bear, named Angela, is “definitely not a human”.
