Pilot Diverts Transatlantic Flight to Save Dog

After learning about a heating system malfunction, an Air Canada pilot decided to divert a flight to save a dog’s life.

An Air Canada pilot is credited for saving the life of a passenger aboard his aircraft – one who wasn’t riding in the main cabin. The unidentified pilot of ACA 85, a Boeing 787-8 en route from Tel Aviv (TLV) to Toronto (YYZ), decided to divert the transatlantic flight in order to save a dog riding as cargo.

The situation began shortly after the Toronto-bound flight took off, when the pilot received notification that a cargo hold heating system had malfunctioned, putting a 7-year-old French Bulldog named Simba in danger. The pilot was then left with two choices: continue to YYZ or divert the flight.

Aware of the risks that the exposure to low temperatures could bring, the pilot elected to divert the flight to Frankfurt Airport (FRA). Upon landing, the dog was transferred to another Air Canada flight to Toronto. Despite costing the airline about $10,000 in fuel and delaying the flight by around 75 minutes, Air Canada defended the pilot’s choice.

“Air Canada’s pilots are professionals who are responsible for the entire flight,” said Air Canada spokesman John Reber. “As soon as the crew became aware of the temperature issue, the Captain grew rightfully concerned for the dog’s comfort and well-being.”

The dog’s owner, German Kontorovich, was incredibly thankful for the pilot’s decision. “It’s my dog, it’s like my child,” Kontorovich told Canada’s CityNews after reuniting with his pet at YYZ. “It’s everything to me.”

[Photo: CityNews]