Cheetah gets loose in cargo hold of passenger flight

[Midnight Mike]

ATLANTA (AP) — A Delta baggage worker got a bit of a fright the day before Halloween when she opened the door of a cargo bin to find a live cheetah running loose inside.
Delta spokeswoman Betsy Talton said Friday that two cheetahs were being transported in the cargo area of a passenger flight from Portland, Ore. to Atlanta Thursday when one escaped from its cage.

Talton said the airline contacted Zoo Atlanta, which quickly sent help. She said zoo staff tranquilized the animals and took them to the zoo, where they were still being held Friday afternoon.

Talton said the airline was working with the owner of the cheetahs to get the big cats back to them. She declined to identify the owners, citing customer privacy rules.

Talton said the cheetah did not damage any luggage.



http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/ ... argo_N.htm (http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2008-10-31-cheetah-in-cargo_N.htm)

[T-Bird76]

Well atleast Delta didn't lose the Cheaters like my bag two weeks ago.

[Tom_Turner]

If one ever has to deal with a wild or semi-domesticated "big cat" on the loose, a Cheetah would the ideal one.

While they can certainly be a danger, apart from the obvious benefit of being smaller than lions & tigers, my understanding is they are generally more well tempered towards people as well.