Iraq orders investigation after escaped bear delays flight in Dubai

Iraq’s prime minister has ordered an investigation into how a bear escaped from its crate within the cargo maintain of an Iraqi plane because it was on account of depart from Dubai airport, leaving passengers disgruntled over the delay and inflicting a stir on social media.

Iraqi Airways stated it wasn’t in charge for the bear’s escape and that the plane’s crew labored with authorities within the United Arab Emirates, which dispatched specialists to sedate the animal and take away it from the airplane.

A video clip circulating on social media confirmed the airplane’s captain apologising to passengers for Friday’s takeoff delay due to the bear’s escape from its crate within the cargo maintain.

a bear escaped from its crate within the cargo maintain of an Iraqi plane because it was on account of depart from Dubai airport. (Christopher Pike/Bloomberg/Getty Images)

Iraqi Airways stated on Saturday that procedures to move the bear have been carried out in accordance with the legislation and with procedures and requirements accepted by the International Air Transport Association.

The airline stated the bear was being flown from Baghdad to Dubai. But an individual talking on the video clip making the social media rounds steered in any other case, saying the plane was an hour late for its journey to Baghdad and that passengers have been being requested to disembark till the difficulty was resolved.

Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest for worldwide journey, declined to remark.

An Iraqi Airways official confirmed to The Associated Press on Sunday that the bear was, in actual fact, being transported to the Iraqi capital.

The official, who spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of he isn’t authorised to talk about the matter publicly, declined to call the animal’s proprietor.

Keeping predatory animals as pets in Iraq — particularly in Baghdad — has change into widespread among the many rich.

Authorities have struggled to implement authorized provisions to guard wild animals.

Baghdad’s police has beforehand known as on residents to help authorities in stopping such animals from being let free on town’s streets or ending up as unique meals in restaurant by reporting such circumstances.