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American Airlines Cargo flies sharks from US to new home in Brazil

AMERICAN Airlines Cargo recently moved two shipments of some very notable and unusual cargo: two sand tiger sharks and three bonnet head sharks for transport from the US to South America.

The sand tiger sharks were flown from New York John F Kennedy (JFK), while the bonnet head sharks flew from Miami International (MIA), all moving to Rio de Janeiro. The five sharks were headed to their new home at an aquarium in Nova Iguazu, Brazil via two different Boeing 777-200s.

American worked with Four Star Cargo to ensure the sharks arrived safely and on time, the airline said in a statement.

In order to ensure their health and safety, the sharks were housed in two special shipping tanks that weighed 4,850 pounds (2,200 kilos) and about 5,500 (2,500 kilos), respectively.

While bonnet head sharks are usually only about 3 to 4 feet long, sand tiger sharks can range in size from 6.5 to more than 10 feet in length. The American Airlines Cargo team worked with the forwarder to ensure the animals had enough space and oxygenated water throughout the shipping process.

Just before takeoff, the shark tanks were carefully sealed and oxygenated to ensure a safe and comfortable journey.

"Our priority was to make sure that the sharks were safe and, of course, arrived on time in Brazil," said Wayne Zimmerman, director of Cargo Operations - MIA. "Our teams coordinated closely with the customer and worked hard to ensure this unique shipment received all of the special care needed throughout its entire journey."