Climate Control In The Hold Failed Before Atlantic Crossing Began

The pilot of an Air Canada flight from Tel Aviv in Israel to Toronto diverted the flight to Germany after a cargo hold heater failed in flight.

In the hold was a French bulldog belonging to one of the passengers on the plane.

USA Today reports that the pilot noticed the malfunction just before the plane was set to begin its Atlantic crossing to Canada. Had he continued the flight, the 7-year-old bulldog might not have survived the cold temperatures in the unheated hold.

The pilot, who was not identified, diverted the flight to Frankfurt, Germany. There, the bulldog "Simba" was taken from the hold and placed on another Air Canada flight headed to Toronto.

The dog and its owner were reunited at Toronto's Pearson International Airport. In a statement, Air Canada said that its pilots are "professionals who are responsible for the entire flight." 

The diversion likely cost the airline several thousand dollars in fuel. The plane was on the ground for about an hour, and arrived at Toronto about 75 minutes late. In its statement, Air Canada said " we recognize this was an inconvenience for our customers, the overall reaction was positive, particularly once people understood the dog was in potential danger but safe as a result of the diversion."

(Image from file)

FMI: www.aircanda.com