Iraqi Airways passengers traveling from Dubai to Baghdad were fuming as their flight experienced a delay caused by the escape of a bear from its crate in the cargo hold.
The flight was left stuck on the tarmac at Dubai International Airport on Friday due to an unusual occurrence. To deal with the situation, experts in animal behavior were brought in to sedate and safely remove the escaped bear.
The National, a newspaper from the United Arab Emirates, posted a video that seemed to capture a bear roaming in the cargo compartment of a plane. A man is depicted extending his hand into the cargo hold, affectionately petting the creature on its head. The exact species of the bear remained unknown at the time.
Another video shared on social media showcased the plane's captain giving an apology to the passengers for the delay due to the bear's escape.
An unidentified Iraqi Airways official informed The Associated Press that the bear was being transported to Baghdad, speaking anonymously due to lack of authorization to make public statements.
The airline issued a statement to The Sun explaining that the delay was due to circumstances outside of their control. They also apologized to affected passengers and mentioned that the flight proceeded to the Iraqi capital once the bear was removed.
When they arrived in Dubai, the flight was delayed due to the cargo hold's shipment; the creature had escaped from its designated box for travelling.
According to the airline's statement to the AP, they cooperated with United Arab Emirates authorities to remove the bear from the plane. They emphasized that the transportation procedures for the bear were conducted in compliance with the law and approved standards set by the International Air Transport Association. The representatives ensured that the company was not at fault for the occurrence.
A social media announcement from Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani's media office directs Transport Minister Razzaq Al Saadawi to conduct an investigation into the incident.