A bear being transported on an Iraqi Airways plane ended up causing many delays for the aircraft and its passengers. The animal somehow managed to escape from its crate in the cargo hold as the plane was due to depart from Dubai airport. This left passengers disgruntled over the delay and caused a stir on social media.
The airline later apologized to its passengers for the situation, citing the delay as beyond its control. It said it coordinated with authorities in the United Arab Emirates, which dispatched specialists to sedate the animal and remove it from the plane.
An investigation was ordered into how the bear escaped from its crate aboard the plane as it was about to take off from Dubai Airport, one of the world’s busiest. A video clip circulating on social media showed the plane’s captain apologizing to the passengers for their inconvenience. The flight was bound for Baghdad, and the captain had to keep the plane on the tarmac at Dubai Airport for an hour while specialists sedated and removed the bear from the aircraft.
A spokesman for the airline said procedures to transport the animal were carried out by the law and standards approved by the International Air Transport Association. He also referred to the fact that the bear was being flown from Baghdad to Dubai, a common destination for such animals.
He cited the need to comply with international treaties governing the transport of endangered species and CITES. Moreover, the spokesman added that the authorities issued all required permits and licenses for the animal.
According to a video clip on YouTube, the bear appeared to be in a good mood while being moved around the aircraft. It even comes close to a ground crew member who rubs it. The animal was then rushed to a quarantine facility.
The airline hasn’t disclosed the reason for transporting the bear or any other details about its welfare. Keeping predatory animals as pets has become popular in Iraq, especially in Baghdad, but authorities have struggled to enforce legal provisions designed to protect wild animals. Several cases of such dangerous creatures being let loose on the streets or ending up as exotic restaurant meals have been reported recently.
An Iraqi Airways spokesman told Insider that the company apologizes to passengers of the delayed flight for reasons beyond its control. The flight was finally able to leave for Baghdad an hour later. The return flight from Dubai to Baghdad has been postponed. Keeping exotic animals as pets has become popular in Baghdad, especially among the wealthy. Authorities have struggled to enforce laws regulating the import of such animals. However, police have previously called on citizens to assist them in preventing such animals from being let loose on the city’s streets or ending up as exotic dishes in restaurants by reporting such incidents. It is still being determined if the bear will be allowed to travel with its owner back to Baghdad.
