A dog named Amalka, whose escape from a plane caused the temporary closure of two runways at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, has been reunited with her owner after nine days on the loose, Air France confirmed on Wednesday.
Amalka, a female dog owned by an Austrian tourist, slipped out of her carrier on November 19 during an unloading operation after arriving on an Air France flight from Vienna. Her unexpected escape set off an intense search operation at France’s largest airport, involving drones, search parties, and posters distributed among airport staff.
The incident escalated on Tuesday when airport authorities closed two runways to deploy a search drone. The closures, scheduled for the off-peak early afternoon, ensured minimal disruption to flights at Charles de Gaulle, one of Europe’s busiest airports.
“After several days of intense searches, we are delighted to confirm that Amalka has been found and returned to her owner,” Air France said in a statement.
Amalka was eventually located in a park in Dammartin-en-Goele, a town near the airport, according to French newspaper Le Parisien. The publication shared a video capturing the heartwarming reunion between the dog and her owner, where Amalka wagged her tail joyfully while being embraced.
The search efforts included nighttime patrols with the owner, who stayed near the airport during the search, with hotel accommodations provided by Air France. Posters alerting staff and travelers to the missing dog were also placed around the airport.
Air France expressed relief over the successful outcome. “Both [Amalka and her owner] will be able to travel to their final destination soon,” the airline added.
Charles de Gaulle Airport, which operates four runways, frequently competes with Amsterdam’s Schiphol for the title of the European Union’s busiest airport. While such incidents are rare, the operation demonstrated the coordination required to balance safety and efficiency at a major international hub.
The case of Amalka highlights both the challenges and the dedication involved in handling unusual situations at airports. Her safe recovery and reunion with her owner brought a joyful conclusion to a weeklong ordeal that briefly captured public attention.
