Baghdad – An Iraqi Airways flight took an unexpected turn today when a bear managed to escape its crate in the cargo hold, causing panic amongst the flight crew and passengers. The bear was reportedly being transported from Baghdad to Istanbul as part of a wildlife exchange program.
The incident occurred shortly after takeoff, when crew members were alerted to strange noises coming from the cargo hold. Upon investigating, they were shocked to find that the bear had escaped its crate and was wandering around freely.
Passengers described scenes of chaos and confusion as the bear roamed through the plane, with some even attempting to take selfies with the animal. One passenger, who wished to remain anonymous, said “It was like a scene out of a movie, except it wasn’t funny. Everyone was running around and screaming while this bear just walked around like it owned the place.”
Despite the danger posed by the animal, the flight crew demonstrated incredible bravery by managing to capture the bear, using a combination of nets and tranquilizer darts. They were helped by a group of expert animal handlers who happened to be on board the flight, who have since been praised for their quick thinking and bravery.
Speaking to reporters after the incident, a spokesperson for Iraqi Airways said, “We apologize to all our passengers for the inconvenience caused by this unexpected incident, and we would like to thank our crew members for their bravery in ensuring the safety of everyone on board.”
The bear, which has since been re-captured and returned to its crate, is said to be in good health and has suffered no injury during the incident. However, questions remain regarding the airline’s procedures for transporting wild animals, and whether they were adequate in this instance.
Sources close to the airline have suggested that there were in fact no specific guidelines in place for transporting such animals, which may have contributed to the chaos that ensued. They indicate that the airline will now be reviewing its procedures in order to ensure that such incidents do not occur in the future.
In the meantime, passengers on-board the flight have expressed their shock and disbelief at the ordeal they went through, with some taking to social media to vent their frustration. One passenger tweeted, “I thought I’d seen it all, but a bear on a plane? Seriously Iraqi Airways?”
Despite the ordeal, the bear has reportedly taken the entire experience in stride, and has been spotted playing peek-a-boo with handlers. Whether or not it will be allowed to take part in any more wildlife exchange programs remains to be seen. But one thing is for sure: this is one flight that nobody on board will ever forget.
