dog escapes through open luggage door, runs onto... runway

LX-LGX · Post by **LX-LGX** » 10 Aug 2007, 21:11

The Italian newspaper La Repubblica has an amazing story. I don't understand Italian, but the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf also mentions it:

a Blue Air 737 from Rome to Bukarest as flight 116Y1 taxied to the runway with an open luggage door. At the same time, a dog managed to escape from his box in the luggage area. The dog ran onto the runway (which is made for that purpose). To make the story complete, his boss (who was a passenger) saw him (or her) running, and noticed the cabin crew.

http://www.repubblica.it/2007/08/sezion ... icino.html

http://www.telegraaf.nl/buitenland/6882 ... gramp.html

Can someone give more details from the original story in La Repubblica?

Duke · Post by **Duke** » 10 Aug 2007, 22:21

Same story in De Standaard (in Dutch) :
http://www.standaard.be/Artikel/Detail. ... 082007_097

Makes me wonder somehow about safty procedures...
How can a plane be given clearance to taxi by the ground crew withouthaving checked everything...

UFO · Post by **UFO** » 11 Aug 2007, 11:00

Hi,

not only the groundcrew, but also the cockpit!

When AVI are loaded, the cargo door will be left open to provide fresh air while standing on ground. Headsetter (who's not always at the scene when loading) has to close the doors on his/her arrival, as the loaders have mostly left the scene for another a/c. (But does he alway knows about this AVI? -Communication-) The cockpit has to ask the ground if they have visually checked all doors and safety-pins. This cannot be a routine question and answer. Both have to check!
I've seen a B707 (some years ago ofcourse) landing and parking once with an open FLD coming from TIP! No probs said the cpt

Rush Rush Rush can be a dangerous factor...Good communication is very important...

LX-LGX · Post by **LX-LGX** » 11 Aug 2007, 14:03

So could it be the Italian story is fake ?

744rules · Post by **744rules** » 11 Aug 2007, 18:09

I think the story could be genuine, but I must agree it has an high urban legend level.

Years ago, a friend of mine notified a sf340 crew that their cargo door was not properly closed. There was a that time no indication in the cockpit.

regi · Post by **regi** » 11 Aug 2007, 18:20

questions about the article:

how could the dog know that his boss was on that particular airplane? Maybe stair boarding, OK.
How could the dog escape? Italian style of luggage handlig, no surpise to me. Remember, dear members, how I take every opportunity to repeat how 2 bags were destroyed at Rome , flying Alitalia by the way.
The open luggage door would probably not have destroyed the airplane because there is no sudden airpressure drop.