3 days ago
A Fur-Real experience
This dog landed at Bahrain International Airport with an Arab family, arriving from a destination just three hours away.
The pet had all travel documents in place — permits, health checks, and approvals — and passed through airport checks without issue.
But the moment the plane touched down; things took an unexpected turn.
The airline decided not to release the dog. No reason was given. No one informed the family.
Instead, the dog was quietly put on the next outbound flight.
These details came to light when the Minor Commercial Court ordered the state-owned airline to pay BD1,275 in damages.
According to court files, the airline had accepted the pet for travel, but refused to hand it over on arrival. With no explanation, the crew member blocked the release and the animal was flown back the next day.
The devastated family, unable to act, had to arrange care for the dog overseas. It took nearly a month to get a new permit and bring the animal back to Bahrain. The whole ordeal cost them over Euro2,500.
The case was brought before the court by the dog's owner, represented by lawyer Rabab Mahdi. She told the court the family had planned the trip well in advance — including the pet's journey — and had followed all required procedures.
The airline, she said, failed to provide any justification for its decision. The children were left distressed and the family was forced to hire a pet care company abroad until the dog could be returned.
Later, the airline admitted fault in an email. It offered to refund the pet's ticket and provide a discount on future flights. But that didn't come close to covering the losses — prompting legal action.
A witness told the court she had contacted the airline's call centre before travel and was advised to complete the booking at the airport. Bahrain Airport confirmed there was no issue with the pet's entry.
The court said the airline had accepted the dog for transport to Bahrain, then refused to release it without explanation. It did not dispute the facts or prove any fault on the claimant's part.
The airline also failed to show it had taken any steps to prevent the harm or that doing so was impossible. The owner submitted payment records showing Euro2,600 spent on care, transport, and new bookings.
The court ordered the airline to pay BD1,275.980 in compensation.
