Precious Cargo
Margo Neas was ready to begin her new life. She was about to move from Christchurch, New Zealand, to Melbourne, Australia. She packed up all her belongings — including her cat, “Mittens.” We’re sure Neas would’ve loved to keep Mittens with her for the flight, but Mittens is a fairly sizeable kitty and that wasn’t allowed. Additionally, Air NZ doesn’t take pet transport bookings directly, so Neas had to book Mittens’ flight through pet carrier” Move My Pet.” Altogether, Neas paid just above $1,100 to get Mittens and her crate transported to Australia in the plane’s cargo hold. The plane took off with Neas in her seat and Mittens in the hold. The 2.5-hour flight was uneventful and the plane landed in Melbourne without issue. Neas cleared the immigration check and went to baggage reclaim to pick up her bags and Mittens. The bags showed up, but it seemed something was delaying the cat. So, Neas waited. And waited. And waited some more.
After three hours of waiting, Neas’ finally lost it. She went to ask for her pet at the service desk, and the ground staff member made some calls. “They said: ‘Look, we have located your cat — but it’s actually on the return flight to Christchurch.’” It turned out that the cargo handlers hadn’t noticed Mitten’s crate, as it had been sitting behind a collapsible wheelchair. The staff grabbed the wheelchair but didn’t realize there was something behind it. Thus, Mittens stayed on the plane. By the time new bags started coming in, the handlers must’ve assumed the cat was where it was supposed to be. After realizing what had happened, both Neas and the Melbourne airport staff got on the phone. The airport agent called the plane and asked the pilot to turn on cargo hold heating so that poor Mittens didn’t freeze. Neas, on the other hand, called Move My Pet. She explained the situation, and a staff member from the company rushed to the airport to retrieve Mittens. The good news is that the cat made it back to New Zealand no worse for wear. Move My Pet gave Mittens a bath and a health check before OK’ing her for her third flight of the day. And so, Mittens got on yet another plane heading back to Melbourne. Seven and a half hours later, she was finally reunited with Neas. There is a silver lining to the story. According to Neas, prior to the flying Mittens was not very affectionate — but after the airplane debacle, she become snugglier than ever.
Saved by the crew
Istanbul is a central air hub between Africa and the world. Lots of people go through there and lots of freight in boxes. Employees and customs officials are always on guard for freight that does not look or feel right. Last week a box that seemed to be moving on its own caught their attention. A 5-month-old gorilla was discovered in a box on a Turkish Airlines flight from Nigeria to Thailand last month. While wildlife officers want to return him to his natural habitat they needed a place to keep the endangered animal. “Olive,” is now recuperating at Polonezkoy Zoo while wildlife and diplomatic officials sort out who owns the Gorilla and where it should be sent. “Of course, what we want is for the baby gorilla … to continue its life in its homeland. What is important is that an absolutely safe environment is established in the place he goes to.”
Frieghtening Humor
Did You hear about that guy who shipped himself in a crate from New York to Dallas?
You know the worst part?
He had to change crates in Atlanta.
Dad is down at the Chinese auto dealership, looking at potential choices.
“Cargo space?” he asks.
The salesman, slightly confused, finally replies, “Car no do that… car go road.”
After a long flight, the Captain comes onto the PA to address the passengers
I’ve got good news and bad news…the bad news we are completely lost and had just enough fuel to get to the destination. The good news, we are almost out of gas so we should be getting close.
What sound does a 747 make when it has a bumpy landing?
Boeing
January 23rd Birthdays
1965 – Mariska Hargirtay, 1957 – Princess Caroline, 1974 -Tiffany Theisen, 1993 – Sinead DeVries
1995 – J. T. Barrett, 1952 – Chesley Sullenberger, 1963 – Hakeem Olajuwon, 1737- John Hancock