Dog on the Runway? Aviation Expert Says It Happens Everywhere

Following yesterday’s incident at V.C. Bird International Airport, where a dog briefly delayed a British Airways landing, aviation specialist Eugene Kaseba Silcott is urging the public to keep the matter in perspective.

Antigua.news was the first to report the incident.

Silcott said too many people “tend to blow these situations out of proportion and act as if such incidents are exclusive to Antigua,” when in fact they occur around the world.

He pointed to recent examples: in April, a JetBlue flight at New York’s JFK Airport was forced to go around because of a dog on the runway, and in June, a similar incident took place at Pune Airport in India.

“These examples highlight that such incidents are not unique to Antigua,” he explained. “Stray animals and birds pose risks to aircraft in many parts of the world.”

He further reminded the public that go-arounds the maneuver where an aircraft aborts its landing to avoid a collision are a standard safety procedure in aviation.

“Whether it’s a British Airways Boeing 777 or a private pilot flying a Cessna 172, air traffic control regularly issues go-around instructions for various reasons, including the presence of stray animals on the runway,” Silcott said. “This is a maneuver that we all understand and respect.”

Silcott added that keeping “a broader perspective” will help the public better appreciate “the complexities and challenges faced by air traffic control and aviation professionals worldwide.”