INVERCARGILL, New Zealand (AFP) - A passenger plane was forced to perform a mid-air U-turn after a dog in the cargo hold chewed its way out of its box, airline officials said.
Air New Zealand said Wednesday that the 68-seater French-built ATR 72 was 10 minutes into its flight from Invercargill to Christchurch when it turned back after the greyhound-collie cross female dog started barking in the cargo hold.
The cargo hold is just behind the cockpit and the airline said it understood the panicky dog got out of the box and tried to get into the cockpit.
When the aircraft landed ground crew opened the cargo door and the dog leapt off and headed toward the city.
Police Sergeant Ian Martin said the 17-month-old dog named Puhi happily jumped in the back of the police car when called.
The owner, Dennis Ututaonga, said Puhi had flown before without problems and he couldn't understand why she had played up on the flight.
He was not surprised Puhi had chewed her way out of the box.
"She manages to chew through golf balls," he said.
Air New Zealand said Wednesday that the 68-seater French-built ATR 72 was 10 minutes into its flight from Invercargill to Christchurch when it turned back after the greyhound-collie cross female dog started barking in the cargo hold.
The cargo hold is just behind the cockpit and the airline said it understood the panicky dog got out of the box and tried to get into the cockpit.
When the aircraft landed ground crew opened the cargo door and the dog leapt off and headed toward the city.
Police Sergeant Ian Martin said the 17-month-old dog named Puhi happily jumped in the back of the police car when called.
The owner, Dennis Ututaonga, said Puhi had flown before without problems and he couldn't understand why she had played up on the flight.
He was not surprised Puhi had chewed her way out of the box.
"She manages to chew through golf balls," he said.
