Dog grounds Qantas jet

A QANTAS jet was grounded after a dog in the cargo hold escaped from its cage and chewed through electrical wiring and interior panels.

The Melbourne-bound A330 left Auckland but developed a fault in the auxiliary power unit, for various systems while grounded, in mid-flight. On landing ground handlers discovered the dog in a “distressed state”.

A source said: “The dog ripped out several wires, which set off the cockpit warning, and then it had a go at a number of electrical units in the rear of the plane. Under duress the animal obviously went nuts, biting through anything that it came across.

“I do not know the breed but the dog had to be fairly big with a big bite to damage cargo hold panels that are as tough as billy-goat boots – it is difficult to even cut through this material with a knife.”

The aircraft was apparently never under any danger while in flight from the damage.
by the dog.