In an unexpected and somewhat surreal turn of events, a Boeing 747 cargo jet on its way from New York to Belgium was compelled to make a U-turn mid-flight at 30,000 feet (9,144 meters) after a horse managed to break free from its stall, causing a commotion on board.
The pilot of Air Atlanta Icelandic flight 4592 radioed air traffic control, announcing, “We have a live animal, a horse, on board the airplane. The horse managed to escape. We cannot get the horse back secured.” The unexpected equine escapade prompted the pilot to request a veterinarian to meet the aircraft upon its return to John F Kennedy International Airport.
During the course of the return journey, the pilot informed air traffic control of the need to jettison 20 tonnes of fuel east of Nantucket to ensure the plane’s weight compliance. The methodical dumping of fuel aimed to mitigate any potential hazards arising from the excess weight.
Upon landing, the pilot clarified that while the aircraft was fine, the primary concern was the horse’s predicament. The incident left aviation authorities and onlookers puzzled as to how the horse managed to liberate itself during the flight.
Despite the bizarre turn of events, the flight eventually resumed later the same day and successfully reached Liege Airport on Friday morning, as reported by FlightRadar24. The circumstances surrounding why the horse was being transported remain shrouded in mystery.
Transporting animals by air, particularly racehorses, is not uncommon. Experts note the availability of different container options resembling “first class, business class, and economy” for animals. However, the details of this particular equine journey and the motivations behind it remain undisclosed.
This incident echoes a similar episode in August, where a bear managed to free itself from its crate on an Iraqi Airways flight from Dubai to Baghdad, adding another chapter to the peculiar annals of airborne animal escapades.