Two men boarded a flight carrying three “emotional support falcons,” a passenger said in a Twitter post, sharing a video showing them get on board.
Twitter user DonnieDoesWorld shared the video.
“Folks two dudes just boarded my plane with emotional support falcons,” he wrote.
The user’s bio says that he is a foreign correspondent for Barstool Sports.
Folks two dudes just boarded my plane with emotional support falcons pic.twitter.com/lHABg8A7La
— The Tajikistahn Dahn (@DonnieDoesWorld) March 29, 2019
The video went viral, garnering over 2 million views.
The user later added: “People are changing seats to get away from them. I just volunteered to sit closer to them. They make me feel secure.”
“Post Flight Thoughts: Would ride with an entire plane full of falcons if given the chance. I saw a 6-year-old kid try to touch a falcon but didn’t see the falcons trying to touch any 6 year-old-kids. Very well behaved,” he said.
Falcons may seem unusual in some parts of the world, but in some places they’re common.
Post Flight Thoughts: Would ride with an entire plane full of falcons if given the chance. I saw a 6 yr old kid try to touch a falcon but didn’t see the falcons trying to touch any 6 yr old kids. Very well behaved. https://t.co/a7rucZGSXI
— The Tajikistahn Dahn (@DonnieDoesWorld) March 30, 2019
According to Qatar Airways, which operates primarily in the Middle East and Africa, passengers are allowed to bring falcons on board if they pay a fee. To fly a falcon to and from a destination in Africa, for instance, passengers will need to pay $450; to fly to and from the Middle East, passengers will need to pay $270.
“Excess baggage rates apply for transporting falcons in the Economy Class cabin,” the airways stated. “Carriage of falcons within the passenger cabin of a Qatar Airways aircraft is not permitted on flights to/from Tunis.”
In 2014, Lufthansa announced it had designed a new device that would allow passengers to bring falcons on board. The “Falcon Master” tray “ensures maximum hygienic protection of the cabin walls, seats and carpets from soiling by the birds,” the company said in a statement.
Falconry in the Middle East is “very popular,” the company noted.
Folks two dudes just boarded my plane with emotional support falcons pic.twitter.com/lHABg8A7La
— The Tajikistahn Dahn (@DonnieDoesWorld) March 29, 2019
Reactions
A slew of users reacted to the video and the portrayal by the Twitter user.
“Falconry is a sign of wealth in many parts of the world. These dudes like to party,” said one user.
“Pets have died in airplanes in cages stored where luggage is stored. Air quality and pressure change within plane, falcons do not do well with change effecting their eating habits sometimes for days. Perched on falconers arm is a comfort to the birds, respected and loved,” said another.
If you fly on Royal Jordanian Airways you’ll have the best chance of this happening. They allow 2 falcons per person (till the max of I think 10 per plane is reached). Other middle eastern airlines allow them too but fewer. In the UAE falcons are issued their own passports. 🙂
— Liz Williams (@Liz_Alfreda) March 30, 2019
“Those are the two coolest guys ever,” said another.
“Man, why doesn’t anything cool like this happen to me on a plane. Awesome,” said another.
“If you fly on Royal Jordanian Airways you’ll have the best chance of this happening. They allow 2 falcons per person (till the max of I think 10 per plane is reached). Other middle eastern airlines allow them too but fewer. In the UAE falcons are issued their own passports,” added another.
