Tim Rollins Photo courtesy of Beth Rollins

You knew it had to happen one of these days. It just had to. Yes folks, pigs do fly, and not only do they fly, they fly first class. It actually happened October 17th on a six-hour flight from Philadelphia to Seattle that had 201 passengers on board – 200 people and a pig.

Suffice it to say that US Airways is more than just a little red-faced about it. US Airways spokesman David Castelveter said, "We can confirm that the pig traveled, and we can confirm that it will never happen again." He emphasized, "Let me stress that. It will never happen again."

For those of you who are wondering how a pig managed to get on board in the passenger cabin, you’re going to love this one. Sources familiar with the incident told the Philadelphia Daily News that the hog’s owners convinced the airline that the animal was a "therapeutic companion pet," much like a guide dog for the blind if you can believe that. Have you ever heard of a Seeing Eye pig?

The pig was traveling with two unidentified women who claimed they had a doctor’s note allowing them to fly with the animal, according to an internal airline report. US Airways and Federal Aviation Administration rules allow passengers to fly with service animals. One has to wonder what kind of service the pig provided besides becoming a part of urban entertainment folklore as he ran hog wild (pardon the pun) up and down the aisle as he tried to force his way into the cockpit. What was his next move? Hijacking the plane? Where would he have taken the passengers and crew? What would have his ransom demands have been? Who would handled the hostage negotiations for the release of the passengers? What would have been his major threat – to pass gas? (Come to think of it, that would be a threat – from a pig.)

After the pig got off the plane in Seattle, he continued squealing in the terminal. Given the safety record of US Airways in a five-year span in comparison to other carriers during the period 1992-1997, one can understand why the pig ran amok. After all, if memory serves, there were five mishaps involving fatalities during that period, all of which were on US Airways. More than likely, the pig was relieved to be off the plane.

Had US Airways handled this better, they may have been able to use this incident to their advantage in an advertising campaign with a touch of humor.

It goes to show that just about anything can happen these days. And now that pigs have flown, there is one less excuse for people to use when shooting down a request, favor or idea from someone else. For those of you who were told "when pigs fly", now is your time to get back at the one who shot you down and have them make good on that promise.

• Photo courtesy of US Airways Official Web Site http://www.usair.com
• With files from CNN.com’s From the Fringe http://www.cnn.com

Copyright © 2000 by Timothy Rollins.
All Rights Reserved.

-Published with permission