It’s not every day that a flight is delayed because a bear escaped from a cargo container, but that’s exactly what happened on a recent Iraqi Airways flight.
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Bear causes Iraqi Airways flight delay
This incident happened on Friday, August 4, 2023, and involves Iraqi Airways flight IA123 from Baghdad (BGW) to Dubai (DXB). The flight was operated by a brand new Boeing 737 MAX 8 with the registration code YI-ASM. The 2hr1min flight was totally routine, until after it landed in Dubai.
When ground workers began to unload the cargo hold of the Boeing 737, they discovered a bear roaming around freely. The good news is that the bear was supposed to be on the flight (so this wasn’t a case of an animal sneaking onto a plane, as we see every so often). The bad news is that the bear was supposed to be in a container, so it obviously managed to escape.
Below you can see a video of the cargo hold door just slightly open, and for some reason, a ground worker is even seen rubbing the bear’s head. Ummm, okay…
The return flight from Dubai to Baghdad ended up being delayed by nearly four hours due to this ordeal. The airline and authorities in the UAE had to coordinate to sedate and then remove the bear from the cargo hold safely. Furthermore, the cargo hold had to be inspected for any damage.
At least the bear didn’t manage to escape the cargo hold. Could you imagine the bear running around the apron of Dubai Airport? That would’ve made for quite a video. I mean, never mind that this was in the middle of the day in Dubai in August, where it’s unbearably hot.
Iraqi Airways apologizes, prime minister orders investigation
Iraqi Airways has apologized for this incident, though stops short of taking any accountability:
”The administration of the company apologizes to the dear travelers of the flight from Baghdad International Airport to Dubai Airport for reasons beyond the control of the company, regarding a shipment in the cargo hold (a bear).”
I think the first major question is how the bear escaped from its container. After all, a container like this should be locked and secured, so that the bear can’t easily break out. The airline claims the bear was being transported according to CITES and IATA standards.
The next major question is why exactly this bear was being transported. There are obviously lots of ethical questions people raise when it comes to transporting animals, and it seems like no one is publicly acknowledging the purpose of the bear’s trip, which makes you wonder.
Iraq’s prime minister has now even gotten involved, and has ordered an investigation into how the bear escaped from its crate.
Bottom line
Airlines carry all kinds of interesting cargo that you’d never think about as a passenger. Sometimes that includes bears. And apparently those bears sometimes escape from their crates in the cargo hold, creating quite a headache for ground workers at Dubai Airport late last week.
Fortunately no one was injured because of this incident, but it did cause a roughly four hour delay.
What do you make of this Iraqi Airways bear situation?
We could bearly contain our amusement when we were greeted by a bear upon going to baggage claim.
Animal cruelty! Bears are wild animals. Where was it being transported and why?
I don’t see the humor in this.
Looks like humans aren't the only species who can't bear being on a 737...
Bears are used the world over, in grotesquely cruel experiments and barbaric practices. "Compliance with CITES" is a red herring since bears aren't endangered and therefore CITES doesn't apply. Iraqi Airways is not obliged to disclose the identity of the shipper or consignee so we'll never know the animal's fate unless the info is leaked.
This is why I fail to see the humor in this story. Anyone that does, clearly doesn't know (or worse, just doesn't care) about bile farming and other horrific torture they endure at the hands of humans.
The middle east is definitely not known for their treatment of wildlife, so I highly doubt it was being transported for anything but nefarious or moronic purposes. China and the Middle East are the two largest buyers...
This is why I fail to see the humor in this story. Anyone that does, clearly doesn't know (or worse, just doesn't care) about bile farming and other horrific torture they endure at the hands of humans.
The middle east is definitely not known for their treatment of wildlife, so I highly doubt it was being transported for anything but nefarious or moronic purposes. China and the Middle East are the two largest buyers of Elephant Tusks and Rhino Horns, for either a status symbol or some idiotic "ancient and magical" remedy.
More like Iraqi Bearways
Probably heard it was being loaded on a MAX and was trying to get off the plane :)
Dubai is “unBEARably hot” at this time of year??? Clearly this cargo passenger was able to grin and bear it ;)
I just can't get over how the guys first thought was "yeah lets pet the bear's face" and not holly sh** shut the door.
Oh, how emBearassing!
Bears dont like the confined area of a "cub"-icle! LOL!
This is the kind of news you bearly ever hear.
It would not have made for quite the video, because you know it would end with them shooting it...
Most shocking thing I've heard today: there are bears in Iraq???
Probably some sheiks pet...
Punning is a serious ailment and quite contagious--and hard to bear.
Smarter than the average bear…
Just a cub. At least the bear nesseities to remove it from the cargo hold.
"....it’s unbearably hot" I'm here all week.
"Please bear with us while we sort out a problem with the cargo"...