Pilot divert airplane to save dog

An Air Canada flight had a heating problem in the
cargo hold
That could have put Simba the French bulldog's life
in danger
(CNN)— Simba the French bulldog is probably alive
today because of the attentiveness of an Air
Canada pilot.
Simba was flying via Air Canada Flight 85 from Tel
Aviv to Toronto when the pilot noticed a problem
with the cargo area's heating system, according to
CNN Canadian affiliate City News. (Simba's owner,
German Kontorovich, was in the cabin with his
fellow humans.)
"As soon as the crew became aware of the
temperature issue, the captain grew rightfully
concerned for the dog's comfort and well-being,"
Air Canada spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick told CNN
via email. "With the altitude it can become very
uncomfortable, and possibly the situation could
have been life-threatening if the flight had
continued."
The aircraft diverted to Frankfurt, Germany, where
Simba, age 7, was boarded onto another flight,
causing a delay of about 75 minutes for the original
flight's passengers.
"Frankfurt was a good choice due to proximity, the
fact there are multiple Air Canada flights (and
flights by our partner Lufthansa) to Canada each
day, and also because the airport can turn aircraft
quickly, meaning there would be little time on the
ground," said Fitzpatrick.
"While we recognize this was an inconvenience for
our customers, the overall reaction was positive,
particularly once people understood the dog was in
potential danger but safe as a result of the
diversion," he said.
Kontorovich was grateful for the pilot's decision.
"It's my dog, it's like (my) child. It's everything,"
he told City News after landing at Toronto Pearson
International Airport.
"It was definitely the right thing to do," a fellow
passenger said.
The diversion could cost the airline thousands of
dollars in fuel costs, aviation expert Phyl Durby
told City News, but he called it the right decision.
"The captain is responsible for all lives on board."