RantCrush Top 5: January 31, 2017

Some guy just bought 80 plane tickets for his 80 falcons, as a trending Twitter picture shows. Is this normal? Or safe? And what would happen if they become claustrophobic in there and start flapping around? It turns out that this is more common than you’d think. According to the Reddit user who posted the photo, it was a Saudi prince who brought his 80 birds along for a ride.

#Saudi prince has reportedly bought 80 plane tickets for his #falcons! pic.twitter.com/12kFgbmG34

— Reza Khaasteh (@Khaaasteh) January 30, 2017

As falconry—training falcons for hunting—is a common and popular sport in the Middle East, airlines often have specific rules for how to transport the big birds. In the United Arab Emirates, birds can be issued their own “passports” that allow them to travel in the region. Each falcon must have its own seat on the plane and they are placed on pieces of fabric—just in case of an accident. Qatar Airlines allows a maximum of six falcons in economy class. Etihad Airways even has a specific column for information about falcons on its website, stating that the birds can be transported either as carry-ons in the cabin or as checked baggage.

via GIPHY

Emma Von Zeipel

Emma Von Zeipel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. She is originally from one of the islands of Stockholm, Sweden. After working for Democratic Voice of Burma in Thailand, she ended up in New York City. She has a BA in journalism from Stockholm University and is passionate about human rights, good books, horses, and European chocolate. Contact Emma at EVonZeipel@LawStreetMedia.com.