A 7-year-old Boston terrier has a pilot to thank for saving his life.
Named Simba, the dog was put in the cargo area of an Air Canada airplane during a flight from Tel Aviv to Toronto, while his owner, German Kontorovich, sat in the cabin with other passengers.
Just as the plane was beginning to fly over the frigid Atlantic Ocean the temperature-control system in the cargo malfunctioned, resulting in temperatures plummeting.
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The pilot noticed his canine passenger may be in danger and acted quickly. Instead of continuing to fly to the final destination, he changed route to land in Frankfurt, Germany. The dog was then transferred to a new plane and was reunited with his owner in Toronto.
While this move could cost the airline an additional $10,000 in fuel, according to aviation expert Phyl Durby, it was the right thing to do.
“The captain is responsible for all lives on board, whether it’s human or K-9” Durby told CNN affiliate City News.
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