Report Details

Cargo Incident Report Type: Death Date of Incident: June 11, 2011 Location: Moscow, Russia Routing: St, Louis, MO (STL) – Atlanta, GA (ATL) - New York, NY (JFK) – Moscow, Russia (SVO)
Flight 30 AWB: 006-05780622 Description of Animal: 8 month old, male chinchilla Description of Incident: A chinchilla was accepted June 9, 2011, in STL for travel on board DL 1423 to ATL. All documents were reviewed and processed in accordance with Delta’s live animal procedures. Flight 1423 from STL to ATL was delayed by 44 minutes due to late arriving inbound equipment. The weather forecast revealed partly cloudy skies with temperatures of 88F to 89F. Once the animal was unloaded in ATL, it was immediately delivered to our temperature-controlled animal holding room to await the departure of flight 122 from ATL to JFK. Flight 122 pushed back from the gate at 19:09. The temperature in ATL was approximately 82F. On arrival at JFK, the chinchilla was again delivered to a temperature-controlled animal holding room where it remained until the following day, with temperatures in the 70’s. On June 10, 2011, agents at JFK visually inspected the animal and provided food and water. Agents stated the animal was in good condition and showed no signs of distress or illness. Approximately 30 minutes prior to the flight’s scheduled departure time of 16:55, JFK agents delivered the animal to the aircraft for departure to SVO on board DL 30. Upon arrival into SVO the next day, the animal was pronounced deceased by the local Veterinary Authorities. Our ramp crew at SVO was instructed to return to animal to JFK because entry was prohibited. Cause of Incident: Howard Beach Animal Clinic in New York performed the necropsy. The doctor’s comments were “to the best of our knowledge cause of death was due to a septic gastroenteritis or acute heart failure from stress. Corrective Action Taken: None Warranted