Deepika Singh, a Mumbai-based cybersecurity researcher, and Rahul Muchhal of Accretion Aviation, have plans to reunite lost pets with their owners by funding a private, animals-only flight. Singh already has four pets confirmed and needs two more in order to make logistics line up. Singh was inspired by the idea after she helped her aunt fly from Delhi to Mumbai to be with family during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“A few of my friends recently took a jet to Goa and that made me think if the same could be done for vulnerable groups like senior citizens, for who taking commercial flights might be risky, and pets who otherwise are transported through cargo shipments, could have a safer ride home,” Singh said. "When I initially began to spread the word through my WhatsApp network, I received a lot of inquiries but some passengers refused to travel along with pets even if they were caged. I then got in touch with Rahul Muchhal of Accretion Aviation and we worked out an all-pet private jet that could transport canines and also birds and other pets that have gotten left behind in this lockdown.”
While only one flight is scheduled, Singh is looking into making this a regular service. This would require hiring someone to supervise the pets onboard, and determine whether or not a plan with an open cockpit is safe for the pets and the pilots.