Social media is having a ball --a falcon themed ball to be specific. This, after Reddit user Lensoo posted a photo on the social media platform of a plane filled with falcons.
Turns out, a Saudi prince had booked flight tickets for each and everyone of them.
"My captain friend sent me this photo," the caption reads. "Saudi prince bought ticket for his 80 hawks [sic]."
It's actually quite common to see falcons flying with passengers in the Gulf.
In fact, Etihad Airways allows the "carriage of falcons in the main aircraft cabin." They also allow for falcons to be "checked baggage," as mentioned on its website.
Qatar Airways also allows falcons and other "certified service animals" inside the airplane cabin, but not without some conditions: Each passenger is limited to one falcon/hawk, and only 6 falcons are allowed on cabin.
Birds that can fly ... get to fly on an airplane
"My hawks have to take the train"
A live movie in-flight!
Did you know that between 2002 and 2013, the UAE government issued more than 28,000 falcon passports?
It's definitely not the first time. In 2013, a photo similar to the one above went viral
Question remains: Did they go for the chicken or the fish dish?