They say dogs are man's best friend, and when one goes missing, it’s not just the owner who feels the loss. This was certainly the case when Amalka, a female dog, escaped from her carrier at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport, triggering a dramatic search operation.
The runaway pup's disappearance on November 19 caused the temporary closure of two of the airport's runways as authorities scrambled to locate her.
Amalka had been travelling with her Austrian owner on an Air France flight from Vienna. After slipping out of her carrier during unloading, the airport's search efforts ramped up quickly, even deploying drones on November 26 to aid in the hunt. In a move that left passengers holding their breath, the runways were shut during the off-peak early afternoon to minimise disruption to flights.
Search parties scoured the airport and surrounding areas, with airport staff hanging up posters and covering hotel costs for the owner. Finally, after nine days on the loose, Amalka was discovered in a park in Dammartin-en-Goele, a nearby town. The heartwarming reunion was captured on video, with Amalka happily wagging her tail as her owner embraced her.
Air France confirmed that both dog and owner would soon be heading to their final destination, bringing a close to the airport’s “ruff” week. As for Amalka, she’s now proven that a dog’s loyalty truly knows no bounds — even if it takes a little runway detour to find her way home.