Alligator on runway delays flight arrival at Orlando Airport
A plane load of Spirit Airlines passengers was held up for a short while on arrival at Orlando Airport thanks to jaywalking alligator.
The alligator sauntered across the tarmac ahead of the just landed Spirit flight, forcing the pilot to hold position on the tarmac.
"Believe it or not, we have to wait for an alligator that’s in the middle of the runway," the pilot said, according to passengers.
It caused a slight delay in getting the aircraft to the arrival gate, however Flight 389 from Baltimore had arrived nearly 20 minutes ahead of schedule.
The gator, which seemed to be heading for a pond just adjacent to the runway, was caught on video by passenger Anthony Velardi.
"It was definitely unexpected but as a Floridian not surprising," Velardi said.
Airport spokeswoman Carolyn Fennell said gator sightings are rare even though the airport is surrounded by water.
Fennell said no other flights were affected at the airport.
Last year a small jet hit an 11-feet long gator which was crossing the runway at Orlando Executive Airport.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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