Firefighters at Heraklion International Airport faced an unusual callout Sunday night: coaxing a bearded vulture off the wing of a plane preparing for takeoff.
The bird had settled on the aircraft’s wing and refused to budge, according to a report by local site Patris.gr. The pilot, noticing the vulture was not moving, alerted the control tower. Civil Aviation Authority staff observed the situation and then notified the Fire Service, whose crews rushed to the runway.
Firefighters used a specialized ladder to approach the bird. The pilot was forced to reposition the aircraft to help clear the way, and firefighters, working with a jacket and gloves, eventually caught the vulture and carried it to the airport fire station. According to local news reports the vulture, wrapped snugly in the jacket, stayed the firefighter’s arms and remained calm the whole time.
Authorities were notified, and the bird was later moved to a safe location, where it remains under the supervision of wildlife specialists.
