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Florida flights delayed due to --- catfish on runway.
As Florida gets pounded by rain for the third day straight, the 20 + inches of rain dropped on the sunshine state is starting to starting to have an effect on airport operations. Flooding and generally soaked conditions near the Melbourne International Airport resulted in a slew of confused animals wandering through the grounds thinking that fields were wetland -- two gopher tortoises, four walking catfish, an alligator and a blue indigo snake so far, to be exact.
While doing routine checks at the airport, inspectors discovered the creatures and were forced to delay at least one Delta Airlines inbound aircraft as they cleared the tarmac. According to the airport's executive director, "The tortoises were moved to the airport's designated gopher tortoise relocation area [while] the walking catfish and snake were tossed back into a nearby pond. The gator wanted no part of the action and scampered back into a drainage ditch"
Ah, the Gopher Tortoise Relocation Area. Many a heady night have I spent in the GTRA (as we regulars call it), drunk, flipping over Tortoises and playing red rover with the locals. I miss the days of unbridled tortise racing, binge drinking and catfish baseball at the Melbourne Airport -- now all we have left is a small relocation area, a crate full of old photos and a vial full of unicorn tears to remember the past.
What strange things have been found on planes?
Filed under: Airports
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Samantha Aug 21st 2008 6:53PM
lol, i never claimed that you were normal :D
Alice Aug 24th 2008 12:30AM
Funny!
Carrie Aug 24th 2008 12:33AM
I believe that would be a BLACK indigo snake. There are no blue indigos.
orionsreason Aug 24th 2008 1:59AM
lol!
Wow, finally I have the history on my hometown rinky-dink airport. Mind you, *one* flight was delayed. I'm sure one or two of the old-timers around here might be able to tell ya'll stories about tortoise racing happening for real.(BTW, that is the correct spelling of them shelled critters)
Whole town was flooded, really sucked, but it made for a really busy Friday night around the retail areas because everyone was sick of being cooped up in their houses for a couple days. But then again this is Florida, enough of us had boats and were cruisin' the roads in 'em.
Tiny and Patti Aug 24th 2008 2:28AM
I am starting to starting to wonder who edits these stories!!