Air cargo is big business worldwide, with dedicated cargo carriers such as FedEx Express, UPS Airlines, and Emirates SkyCargo transporting huge amounts of cargo around the world. Many commercial airlines also carry cargo in the holds of their passenger aircraft, providing an extra source of revenue in a competitive market.
Photo: Vytautas Kielaitis | Shutterstock
From cars to food supplies and even exotic animals, cargo airlines carry all manner of items. But occasionally, things go wrong and such animals escape before, during, or after the flight, causing havoc for airlines and airports worldwide. We take a look at some of the most bizarre creatures to have escaped from aircraft cargo over the years.
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Escaped horse causes aircraft U-turn
Back in November 2023, an Air Atlanta Icelandic Boeing 747 cargo aircraft heading from New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Liege Airport (LGG) was forced to do a U-turn over the Atlantic Ocean because of a horse that escaped from its container. As reported by BBC News at the time, the air traffic control recording captures one of the pilots saying,
