Pandas Journey from Washington to China on Highly Monitored Flight

On Wednesday, aviation enthusiasts worldwide closely monitored the trajectory of a FedEx flight (Flight FX 9758) embarking on a significant journey from Washington to Chengdu via Anchorage.

The focal point? Three colossal panda bears were aboard, making their way to their new residence in China.

The special FedEx flight initiated its journey from Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) at 12:50, logging over seven hours in the air before touching down in Anchorage (ANC) at 15:56 local time. This airborne odyssey swiftly gained attention as the most-tracked flight on Flightradar24, drawing over 50,000 viewers keen on following the pandas' airborne venture.

The trio of pandas—Tian Tian, 26, Mei Xiang, 25, and their cub, Xiao Qi Ji, 3—is undergoing a relocation orchestrated by the China Wildlife Conservation Association. Former residents of the National Zoo in Washington, where Xiao Qi Ji was born in August 2020, the pandas bid farewell to a sizable crowd before boarding the FedEx flight.

The longstanding tradition of "Panda Diplomacy" between the US and China, spanning over half a century, seems to be concluding amid strained political relations. Alongside the three pandas previously residing in Washington, pandas from Atlanta and San Diego have already returned to China, with Atlanta Zoo's pandas scheduled for repatriation next year.

The pandas' journey involves a layover in Anchorage for refueling before continuing to Chengdu (CTU) on the same aircraft. The second leg of the flight, departing Anchorage at 18:44, is anticipated to reach Chengdu around 21:30 local time, resulting in an estimated total travel time of 19 hours for the pandas.

Ensuring the well-being of the pandas during the flight, they are housed in specially designed containers equipped with food, water, and a dedicated care team. The pandas underwent weeks of preparation to acclimate to the containers, minimizing stress during their journey.

While airlines occasionally transport unique cargo, such as Silk Air West's relocation of 100 yaks from Kyrgyzstan to Azerbaijan last year, the "Panda Express" aircraft for this notable journey is an 11-year-old FedEx Boeing 777F (registration: N886FD), adorned with a charming panda sticker on the fuselage.

Notably, if 50,000 users tracking a flight seems substantial, consider the historic flight that carried Queen Elizabeth II's coffin following her demise in September 2022—reportedly watched by an astonishing 6,000,000 viewers, marking it as the most-tracked flight in history.

Source: simpleflying.com