I'm A Flamingo...Get Me Out Of Here!
Following the news of a rogue flamingo managing to shut down a runway at Manchester airport for four hours earlier this week, and migrating turtles disrupting flights last week at New York's JFK International airport, private jet booking platform PrivateFly.com presents a top ten list of other animal-related airport holdups.
- Turtles in New York
Last Wednesday, migrating diamondback turtles caused delays during the rush-hour at America's busiest airport JFK International. The creatures were crossing the runway in search of the sandy area next to Runway 4L, a favourite egg-laying spot. Pilots were alerted to avoid the slow-moving obstacles, with further flights delayed while staff encouraged the creatures to move to safer ground. This natural event causes problems for the airport - which is surrounded by water - every year.
- Frogs in Cardiff
Two stowaway frogs grounded an airliner for an hour at Cardiff International Airport in September 2005. The Monarch Airways flight to Florida, with more than 300 passengers on board, was delayed on the taxi-way, while the frogs hopped around the cargo hold. It is thought the Cuban tree frogs had jumped into the aircraft's luggage bay while suitcases were loaded in Cuba for the flight to Britain.
- Otters in Houston
Otters caused an eighty-minute delay for passengers in December 2009 aboard a Continental Airlines flight departing Houston from Bush Intercontinental Airport. The marine mammals were supposed to be transported in cages in the cargo hold, but a couple escaped and ran down the gangplank, then across the tarmac. The plane couldn't take off until they were recovered, some 45 minutes later.
- Catfish in Florida
In August 2008 a jet was denied landing in Florida due to the presence of walking catfish on the runway. Marooned by high water from Tropical Storm Fay, the four fish were accompanied by two gopher tortoises, a blue indigo snake and an alligator. The approaching jet had to circle until the lively obstacles had been relocated to a nearby pond.
- Bees in Manila
A swarm of bees affected operations and delayed some flights at Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport in May 2011. Some airport workers, including wheelchair attendant Rodolfo Gabriel, were reportedly stung by the bees which swarmed the control panels of at least five airport aerobridges, preventing controllers from attaching the movable walkways to arriving aircraft. The gates were immediately closed by the authorities, saying the incident posed danger to both passengers and airport workers.
- Hares in Milan
Hares played havoc with the radar systems at the Italian airport in June 2007 and continue to prove a nuisance - also disrupting takeoffs and landings. This has led to a twice-yearly event where volunteers attempt to scare off the animals by blowing whistles and waving their arms.
- Pythons in Alice Springs
A Qantas airplane missed two scheduled flights in April 2009 when four baby pythons were unaccounted for, following a flight from Alice Springs to Melbourne, Australia. The snakes were being transported in the plane's cargo hold and were thought to be safely packed inside a bag that was secured in a foam box. The plane was fumigated and returned to service, however the snakes were never found.
- Cheetah in Melbourne
"We're sorry for the delay, but we're having some problems loading the cheetah. We have to do it very carefully". This is what a captain told his passengers in Melbourne in order to explain a 50 minute delay in December 2010.
- Coyote in Atlanta
In March 2011, authorities reported a loose coyote on the runway in Atlanta's international airport. The wily creature delayed flights for a few minutes until ground crews chased it away. Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen said the coyote was spotted on the south side of the airport around 3.30pm.
- Dogs in Delhi
Stray animals are a regular nuisance for the well-practised authorities at airports in India. Within just three months in 2009, 200 dogs were captured and relocated from the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi. The airport - like others across India - is experienced at dealing with such incidents; other regular animal visitors include jackals, snakes, monkeys and birds.
Adam Twidell, CEO of PrivateFly.com and an experienced pilot, commented: "We regularly come across legitimate and welcome animal airport visitors, as many owners choose to fly by private jet with pets. However uninvited creatures do prove a nuisance at airports, causing delays and safety concerns. In some parts of the world this can be a common sight, but a flamingo is certainly not something you expect to come across every day on a runway in Manchester".
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