Canadian pilot diverted flight to Frankfurt for emergency landing — 75-minute delay was quickly forgiven when his heartwarming reason came to light

The plane was set to cross the Atlantic, but the pilot made a quick decision to land before conditions worsened.

PUBLISHED 11 HOURS AGO

(L) A pilot flying a plane, (R) Cancelled flights due to weather. (Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images | (L) zeljkosantrac, (R) E4C)

A Canadian pilot did his duty to ensure every passenger on board was transported safely to the destination, though it caused a 75-minute delay. In 2015, the flight from Tel Aviv to Toronto was diverted for an emergency landing in Frankfurt, Germany, for a heartwarming reason. When the unnamed pilot noticed a technical glitch in the cargo area of the plane, his quick thinking saved a first-time passenger from a life-threatening situation.

Representative Image Source: Pexels| Kelly — Two pilots are flying an airplane. (Representative Image Source: Pexels | Kelly)

The pilot steered an Air Canada plane to a whole different direction when he found out that a dog was at risk of freezing to death with the dropping temperatures in the hold. The plane was about to fly over the Atlantic Ocean, where the temperatures would plummet further, thus prompting the emergency landing. A seven-year-old French Bulldog named Simba was rescued from the freezing cargo area and moved to a different flight for his safety, per The Independent. The pilot was made aware of a heating malfunction in the cargo zone where Simba was placed for the flight’s duration. It urged the pilot to make an unprecedented halt so they could raise the temperature and ensure the dog’s chance of survival.

A man carrying a dog in his arms (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Sviatlana Barchan) — A man carrying a dog in his arms. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Sviatlana Barchan)

Simba was later reunited with his owner, German Kontorovich, at Pearson Airport in Toronto. He was traveling from Israel to Canada for his studies and felt immensely grateful for the pilot’s compassion for his canine passenger. “It’s my dog, it’s like my child. It's everything to me,” he told CityNews, a Canadian news outlet. According to Pet MD, tolerance for temperatures varies from one dog to another, and may depend on their coat type, breed, weight, age, and size, among other factors. Though dogs are masters at survival, even in extreme circumstances, a temperature that falls below 45 degrees Fahrenheit might be uncomfortable for some dogs. When it drops under 20 degrees Fahrenheit, the animals may develop hypothermia or frostbite with prolonged exposure.

A flight is about to land. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Craig Hastings)

A spokesperson for Air Canada, Peter Fitzgerald, explained that a heater is not a “critical component” that would prompt an emergency landing. However, there was a live animal aboard in the hold, and the low temperatures with rising altitudes could become a “life-threatening” situation for the dog had the flight continued to fly over the Atlantic. Despite the significant delay, passengers were elated after learning of this brave feat. “While we recognize this was an inconvenience for our customers, the overall reaction was positive, particularly once people understood the dog was in potential danger but safe as a result of the diversion,” Fitzgerald said.

Sick young puppy with ice bag on head. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Carol Yepes)

Aviation expert Phyl Durby estimated that the 1-hour 15-minute delay cost the airlines about $10,000 CAD in wasted fuel. He supported the pilot, stating, “The captain is responsible for all lives on board, whether it’s human or K-9." An HonestPaws report revealed that over 250 animal passengers died during or after airline travel between 2010 and 2020. 170 more were found to have injuries, while over a dozen of them were lost by the airlines, as per Forbes.