- Title: BELGIUM: YOUNG LIONS FORCE AIRCRAFT TO MAKE EMERGENCY LANDING IN BRUSSELS.
- Date: 15th July 1966
- Summary: LIONS AT BRUSSELS; AND IN LONDON. Initials PBS/V-VS/CCT/OS Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 30th July 1966 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM & LONDON, UK
- Country: Belgium
- Reuters ID: LVA6L3WKD8CBRII616KCSTTGNAMR
- Story Text: A SWISS AIRCRAFT BOUND FROM FRANKFURT, IN WEST GERMANY, TO LONDON TODAY (FRIDAY) WAS FORCED TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN BRUSSELS AFTER THREE LIONS ON BOARD BROKE OUT OF THEIR CAGES.
THE LIONS, A CUB AND TWO LARGE YOUNGSTERS, WERE BOUND FOR THE HOME OF THE MARQUIS OF BATH, LONGLEAT, IN WESTERN ENGLAND.
WHEN THE AIRCRAFT WAS OVER BELGIUM THE PILOT, CAPTAIN PAUL WUHRMAN FELT A WARM NUZZLE AGAINST HIS LEG. IT WAS ONE OF THE THREE LIONS WHICH HAD ROAMED INTO THE COCKPIT.
THE OTHER TWO LIONS, INCLUDING THE CUB, ALSO BROKE OUT OF THEIR CAGES AND TRIED TO GET INTO THE COCKPIT.
THE CO-PILOT KEPT THE BEASTS AT BAY WITH A HATCHET WHILE THE PILOT RADIOED ASKING FOR PERMISSION TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING AT BRUSSELS.
AT FIRST HE WAS DISBELIEVED. HIS PLEA "I HAVE THREE LIONS IN THE COCKPIT" WAS GREETED WITH THE RETORT "PUT THEM IN YOUR TANK".
WHEN THE AIRCRAFT LATER TOUCHED DOWN IN BRUSSELS THE LIONS WEE TRANSFERRED TO STRONGER CAGES, AND COMPLETED THE JOURNEY TO LONDON WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.
THE PILOT AND CO-PILOT LEFT THEIR PLANE BY CLIMBING THROUGH A COCKPIT WINDOW.
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