A Spectacular Scene: 80 Falcons Take Flight on Passenger Plane
The photo that went viral a few years ago is back in the spotlight on Twitter. It captures 80 falcons, belonging to a Saudi prince, each with their own assigned seat.
IllustrationThis photo initially went viral a few years back but recently regained fame after being posted on X (formerly Twitter) by an account named "Historical Vids."
In 2017, a photo was shared on Reddit showing a seemingly regular passenger flight, except it had 80 stunning falcons, all hooded, perched atop the seats alongside other travelers.
The uploader explained to American media, "A friend of mine, who is a pilot, sent me this picture. According to him, a Saudi prince purchased standard airfare tickets for his 80 falcons."
This rare display initially garnered 85,000 views and hundreds of comments online in just two days. In its current resurgence, the image has amassed 44 million views and tens of thousands of shares within four days.
Falconry is a cultural heritage of the Arabian Peninsula, encompassing countries like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. Wealthy locals are devoted to this beloved sport, even while traveling. Between 2002 and 2013, over 28,000 falconry licenses were issued in Saudi Arabia. However, seeing falcons in an airplane's passenger section remains rare.
The falcon is the national bird of the United Arab Emirates, and these majestic birds can even be issued a three-year passport. This allows them to travel to Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Morocco, and Syria..
The photo in the article is published under Section 27a of the Copyright Act.
