A Boeing 747 cargo jet had to turn back to the airport after a horse escaped from its stall while the plane was cruising at 30,000ft (9,144m). The plane was on its way to Belgium from New York when the incident occurred. The pilot informed air traffic control that there was a live horse on board that had managed to escape and could not be secured. As a result, the pilot requested a veterinarian to meet the aircraft once it landed back at John F Kennedy International Airport. During the return, the plane had to dump 20 tonnes of fuel to reduce its weight. It is still unclear how the horse managed to escape, but it was unrestrained when the plane landed. The flight later took off again and successfully arrived at Liege Airport the following morning.

The reason for transporting the horse is unknown, but one common reason for transporting animals, especially horses, is for racing purposes. Different size container options are available for animals during transportation. This incident is not the first time an animal has escaped from its cargo stall on an airplane. In a previous incident, a bear freed itself from its crate on an Iraqi Airways flight from Dubai to Baghdad.

Overall, the incident involving the escaped horse caused the cargo jet to turn back to the airport and dump fuel to reduce weight. The horse was eventually secured once the plane landed, and the flight was able to continue to its destination. The reason for transporting the horse remains unknown, but it is not uncommon for animals, such as racehorses, to be transported by plane.

Original news source: Plane forced to return to airport after horse escapes crate (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: Students are asked to read the article individually and then summarize it in their own words within a 2-minute time limit. They should cover the key points: the horse escaping on the Boeing 747, the plane turning back and dumping fuel, and the eventual continuation of the journey.

– Headline Creation
Instructions: In pairs, students brainstorm and write down sensational headlines that could be used for this news story. Encourage creativity and wordplay. Afterward, they share their headlines with the class and discuss which one would most likely catch a reader’s attention.

– Opinion Spectrum
Instructions: Pose a question to the class related to the article, such as “Should there be stricter regulations for transporting animals on planes?” or “Is it ethical to transport animals by air?” Students line up according to their opinion, from “strongly agree” to “strongly disagree.” They then discuss their reasoning with the person next to them and share their thoughts with the class.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write down key vocabulary from the article on slips of paper (e.g., cargo jet, veterinarian, stall, dump fuel, secure). Students take turns drawing a word from the pile and then illustrate the word on the board without writing any letters or numbers. Their team must guess the word within a set time limit.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: Ask students to imagine they are industry experts discussing the implications of this incident on future animal transportation. In groups, students make predictions about changes in policies, procedures, or technology that might result from this event. They present their predictions to the class and provide reasons for their ideas.

Comprehension Questions:

1. At what altitude was the Boeing 747 cruising when the horse escaped from its stall?
2. From which city had the plane departed and to which country was it headed when the incident occurred?
3. What did the pilot request from air traffic control after informing them about the escaped horse?
4. How much fuel did the plane have to dump in order to safely return to the airport?
5. Where did the plane land after turning back due to the incident with the horse?
6. What is one possible reason mentioned for transporting horses by plane?
7. How was the horse found when the plane landed back at the airport?
8. Can you name another incident where an animal escaped from its cargo stall on an airplane?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

A Boeing 747 cargo jet had to turn back to the airport after a (1)______ escaped from its (2)______ while the plane was cruising at 30,000ft (9,144m). The plane was on its way to Belgium from New York when the incident occurred. The pilot (3)______ air (4)______ control that there was a live horse on board that had managed to escape and could not be secured. As a result, the pilot requested a veterinarian to meet the aircraft once it landed back at John F Kennedy International (5)______. During the return, the plane had to dump 20 (6)______ of fuel to reduce its weight. It is still unclear how the horse managed to escape, but it was (7)______ when the plane landed. The flight later took off again and successfully arrived at Liege Airport the following morning.

The (8)______ for transporting the horse is unknown, but one common reason for transporting (9)______, especially horses, is for racing purposes. Different size (10)______ options are available for animals during transportation. This incident is not the first time an animal has escaped from its (11)______ stall on an airplane. In a previous incident, a bear freed itself from its crate on an Iraqi Airways flight from (12)______ to Baghdad.

Overall, the incident (13)______ the (14)______ horse (15)______ the cargo jet to turn back to the airport and dump fuel to reduce weight. The horse was eventually secured once the (16)______ landed, and the flight was able to continue to its destination. The reason for transporting the horse remains unknown, but it is not uncommon for animals, such as racehorses, to be transported by plane.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is your opinion on transporting live animals by air? Why?
2. How would you feel if you were a passenger on a plane and found out an animal had escaped its container?
3. Do you think it is safe to transport large animals such as horses and bears on the same planes as people? Why or why not?
4. Have you ever experienced or heard of any incidents involving animals during a flight? Can you describe what happened?
5. What measures do you think airlines should take to ensure the safety of animals during flights?
6. Do you think there should be special training for crew members on flights carrying live animals? Why or why not?
7. How do you feel about the environmental impact of having to dump fuel in situations like the one described in the article?
8. Do you believe that the benefits of transporting animals by plane outweigh the risks? Why or why not?
9. Can you think of any alternative methods for transporting animals long distances that might be safer or more humane?
10. Do you like the idea of animals being transported for racing purposes? Why or why not?
11. What is your stance on the ethical considerations of transporting animals for entertainment such as racing or shows?
12. How would you design a container for transporting animals by air to prevent them from escaping?
13. Do you think the regulations for animal transportation by air are strict enough? Why or why not?
14. Have you ever had to transport a pet or an animal? What precautions did you take to ensure its safety?
15. What do you think could be the consequences for an airline if an animal were to cause a serious incident during a flight?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. horse
2. plane
3. escape
4. cargo
5. stall
6. airport
7. fuel
8. transportation

Meanings:
(a) The act of moving something from one place to another
(b) A small compartment for holding animals or goods
(c) Goods or products being transported
(d) A substance used to power vehicles
(e) To get away from a place or situation
(f) An animal with four legs and a mane
(g) A place where airplanes take off and land
(h) A vehicle that flies in the sky
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What caused the cargo jet to turn back to the airport?
(a) A horse escaped from its stall
(b) The pilot requested a veterinarian
(c) The plane had to dump fuel
(d) The horse was unrestrained when the plane landed

2. How much fuel did the plane have to dump?
(a) 30,000ft
(b) 20 tonnes
(c) 9,144m
(d) The article does not say

3. What is one common reason for transporting animals, especially horses?
(a) Vacation
(b) Racing purposes
(c) Moving to a new home
(d) None of the above

4. What happened to the horse once the plane landed back at the airport?
(a) It was released
(b) It was taken to a veterinarian
(c) It was secured
(d) The article does not say

5. What is another incident mentioned in the article where an animal escaped from its cargo stall?
(a) A dog on a domestic flight
(b) A cat on a train
(c) A bear on an Iraqi Airways flight
(d) None of the above

6. What did the pilot request once the horse escaped?
(a) A veterinarian
(b) More fuel
(c) A new plane
(d) None of the above

7. How did the plane eventually reach its destination?
(a) The horse was secured and the flight continued
(b) The plane had to dump fuel to reduce weight
(c) The article does not say
(d) The flight took off again and successfully arrived

8. What is still unclear about the incident?
(a) Why the plane had to dump fuel
(b) Where the plane was going
(c) None of the above
(d) How the horse managed to escape

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. A Boeing 747 cargo jet did not have to turn back to the airport after a horse escaped from its stall while the plane was in flight.
2. The pilot requested a veterinarian to meet the aircraft once it landed back at John F Kennedy International Airport.
3. This incident is the first time an animal has escaped from its cargo stall on an airplane.
4. The plane had to dump 20 tonnes of fuel to reduce its weight during the return.
5. The incident occurred while the plane was on its way to Belgium from New York.
6. It is clear how the horse managed to escape, and it was restrained when the plane landed.
7. One common reason for transporting animals, especially horses, is for racing purposes.
8. The flight did not later take off again and did not successfully arrive at Liege Airport the following morning.
Go to answers ⇩

Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. What was the reason for the Boeing 747 cargo jet to return to John F Kennedy International Airport?
2. How did the pilot address the situation with the escaped horse while in flight?
3. What safety measures were taken by the plane before it landed back at the airport?
4. What are some potential reasons for transporting horses on airplanes, as mentioned in the article?
5. Has there been a similar incident in the past involving animals escaping their cargo stalls on airplanes? If so, what animal was involved?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. At what altitude was the Boeing 747 cruising when the horse escaped from its stall?
The Boeing 747 was cruising at 30,000ft (9,144m) when the horse escaped from its stall.

2. From which city had the plane departed and to which country was it headed when the incident occurred?
The plane had departed from New York and was headed to Belgium when the incident occurred.

3. What did the pilot request from air traffic control after informing them about the escaped horse?
The pilot requested a veterinarian to meet the aircraft once it landed back at John F Kennedy International Airport.

4. How much fuel did the plane have to dump in order to safely return to the airport?
The plane had to dump 20 tonnes of fuel to reduce its weight.

5. Where did the plane land after turning back due to the incident with the horse?
The plane landed back at John F Kennedy International Airport after turning back due to the incident.

6. What is one possible reason mentioned for transporting horses by plane?
One possible reason mentioned for transporting horses by plane is for racing purposes.

7. How was the horse found when the plane landed back at the airport?
The horse was found unrestrained when the plane landed back at the airport.

8. Can you name another incident where an animal escaped from its cargo stall on an airplane?
Yes, in a previous incident, a bear freed itself from its crate on an Iraqi Airways flight from Dubai to Baghdad.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) horse
(2) stall
(3) informed
(4) traffic
(5) Airport
(6) tonnes
(7) unrestrained
(8) reason
(9) animals
(10) container
(11) cargo
(12) Dubai
(13) involving
(14) escaped
(15) caused
(16) plane
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. horse
Answer: (f) An animal with four legs and a mane

2. plane
Answer: (h) A vehicle that flies in the sky

3. escape
Answer: (e) To get away from a place or situation

4. cargo
Answer: (c) Goods or products being transported

5. stall
Answer: (b) A small compartment for holding animals or goods

6. airport
Answer: (g) A place where airplanes take off and land

7. fuel
Answer: (d) A substance used to power vehicles

8. transportation
Answer: (a) The act of moving something from one place to another
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What caused the cargo jet to turn back to the airport?
Answer: (a) A horse escaped from its stall

2. How much fuel did the plane have to dump?
Answer: (b) 20 tonnes

3. What is one common reason for transporting animals, especially horses?
Answer: (b) Racing purposes

4. What happened to the horse once the plane landed back at the airport?
Answer: (c) It was secured

5. What is another incident mentioned in the article where an animal escaped from its cargo stall?
Answer: (c) A bear on an Iraqi Airways flight

6. What did the pilot request once the horse escaped?
Answer: (a) A veterinarian

7. How did the plane eventually reach its destination?
Answer: (d) The flight took off again and successfully arrived

8. What is still unclear about the incident?
Answer: (d) How the horse managed to escape
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. A Boeing 747 cargo jet did not have to turn back to the airport after a horse escaped from its stall while the plane was in flight. (Answer: False)
2. The pilot requested a veterinarian to meet the aircraft once it landed back at John F Kennedy International Airport. (Answer: True)
3. This incident is the first time an animal has escaped from its cargo stall on an airplane. (Answer: False)
4. The plane had to dump 20 tonnes of fuel to reduce its weight during the return. (Answer: True)
5. The incident occurred while the plane was on its way to Belgium from New York. (Answer: True)
6. It is clear how the horse managed to escape, and it was restrained when the plane landed. (Answer: False)
7. One common reason for transporting animals, especially horses, is for racing purposes. (Answer: True)
8. The flight did not later take off again and did not successfully arrive at Liege Airport the following morning. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧