Horse Dies In Midair On El Al Flight From Belgium To JFK

via El Al's website

A horse being carried on an El Al cargo flight from Belgium to JFK reportedly died in mid-air this morning, and representatives from the USDA are on the scene to perform an necropsy. Flight 831 left Belgium's Bierset Airport early this morning and arrived 25 minutes late at 9:35 a.m. A Port Authority spokesman referred us to El Al, and we're awaiting a response from the airline and the USDA.

Humberto Rivera, who's been transporting horses overseas for 14 years, tells us, "This is the first time I've heard something like since happen since I've been in business." Unlike to the stress that the horses are under when they're being transported by truck, air travel "is like being in heaven. Compared to ground transport, it's very safe, the conditions are much less stressful on the animal." Sandra DeFeo of the Humane Society agrees: "Air travel keeps the horse confined for the shortest amount of time possible, and it's probably the safest way to move a horse from overseas to the US."

The most famous case of a horse dying during air transport is Markham, a horse that had to be euthanized on a flight to Tokyo for the 1964 Olympics after it became restless and endangered the lives of the other horses and people on the flight.

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By Christopher Robbins in News on July 15, 2011 12:30 PM

Comments [rss]

chlyn

The horse probably died waiting for the loo while waiting for the flight attendants to finish the interminable beverage/cleanup/lunch/cleanup.

ONE_LESS_FIXED_GEAR

What about Baby Lap Giraffes? http://www.petitelapgiraffe.co...

Inkognita

I thought horses were not infrequently tranquilized on these flights. So what went wrong this time? Who was the veterinarian in charge of the transfer?

Incidentally, many--if not most--dog breeders who agree to sell and ship dogs to out-of-state buyers also sedate these animals before flight. Many buyers who are not aware of this usually think their newly arrived pet is just tired from his long journey. And sedation can have dangerous consequences if done by someone who doesn't know what he's doing.

kitty

Just so you know, The breeder who sold me my sweet little Zsa Zsa Coutour( hairless chiness Crested) does not sadate her dogs, as we both think that that could be dangerous.aS VET TECHS WE SHOULD KNOW! Please stop spreading lies.

Spirit of 76

felixthecat: "Shame on you, buying a dog from a breeder! Lose some weight and fix your face, you fat bytch! I hope you die a lingering, excruciating death!"

(Okay, those last words are longer than felix knows, but whatever.)