turtle

Sea turtle-themed All Nippon Airways A380 airbus Image via Instagram @allnipponairways

Big in Japan: Turtle jam delays take-off of five flights at Tokyo airport

The fast-moving world of aviation was forced to slow down at Narita International Airport, in Tokyo, while a turtle made its way across the runway…

turtle

Sea turtle-themed All Nippon Airways A380 airbus Image via Instagram @allnipponairways

Several things have been the reason for plane delays… Extreme weather, stray animals, urgent maintenance issues and waiting for passengers rushing between connecting flights. But who would have thought that an innocent turtle would be the cause of not one, but FIVE plane delays?

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TURTLE TURBULENCE

A 2kg turtle was clearly in a world of its own on Friday 24 September while burning up the runway tar, posing a big issue for airport staff at Narita International Airport, east of Tokyo.

According to Mainichi Shimbun, a pilot was about to take off from Narita International when the slow-moving creature was spotted and staff had to close off the 4 000m runway for 12 minutes to take the turtle to safety.

Interestingly enough, five planes were delayed and one was an All Nippon Airways (ANA) plane that was decorated with sea turtles. Who knows? Maybe the turtle saw a friend on the plane!

NARITA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO INVESTIGATE

In the past, staff at Narita International Airport have been requested to remove stray cats, dogs and rabbits from the runway, but spotting turtles are extremely rare. 

The turtle was rescued and it is reported that it may have escaped from the airport’s retention pond situated a mere 100 metres away. 

ANA’s sea turtle-themed plane was taking off for the first time after being grounded due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the airline did not respond negatively towards the turtle delaying their Airbus A380. 

“In Hawaii, sea turtles are seen as bringing good luck, and we hope this turtle that came to see the flight off signals a bright future,” the airline said.

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WHAT OTHER ODD THINGS HAVE DELAYED PLANES?

Being part of the aviation industry means you have to be prepared for the unprepared. These are just three of 15 of the weirdest reasons for plane delays. 

Pilots on the run

Believe it or not, but the only way a plane can hit the sky is with a pilot. New York-based journalist Alyssa Haak was flying from Fort Lauderdale airport in Florida and the pilots were nowhere to be seen. New pilots had to be called in to fly the plane. 

Toilet paper shortage

A plane flying from Gatwick Airport in the UK to Barbados was delayed for five hours because there was no toilet paper on the plane.

Plane babies!

Passengers on a flight from Dubai to Manila in the Philippines heard: “One semi-loud screech and a few seconds later there were tinier cute screeches.”

A baby girl was born on the plane and luckily there were two nurses on the plane who were quick to assist.