An Air Canada pilot just proved that every single passenger, no matter how small, counts when he diverted his international flight from Tel-Aviv to Toronto to save the life of his littlest passenger – a seven-year-old French Bulldog named Simba.
Reports say that the pilot diverted the plane to Frankfurt when he realized that the heating unit in the cargo hold was not functioning. At such high altitudes, Simba could have potentially frozen to death. Rather than risk the frightened and cold pooch dying on his flight, the pilot chose to divert the plane before it made its way over the Atlantic Ocean.
Simba was removed from the flight and placed on another Air Canada craft which was headed to Toronto Pearson International Airport.
Simba's owner, German Kontorovich, was grateful that the safety of his beloved pet was made a priority.
“It’s my dog, it’s like my child. It’s everything to me,” he said when they were reunited.
Peter Fitzpatrick, a spokesperson for Air Canada lauded the pilot and said that he made the right decision. Although the heating unit is not necessarily critical to completing the plane's route over the Atlantic, his choice to divert may have saved Simba's life. In addition, Air Canada's rules state that the ambient temperature of the cargo should be at a minimum of 10 degrees when there is a canine traveler.
The flight arrived at its final destination only 75 minutes behind its original schedule and all 232 passengers were said to be understanding of the need for the unexpected landing in Frankfurt.
"The overall reaction was positive, particularly once people understood the dog was in potential danger but safe as a result of the diversion,” Fitzpatrick said.
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