Turtles Didn't Get the Memo

New York City : NY : USA | Jun 30, 2011 at 6:12 AM PDT

By Nathaniel Hines

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Just because you happen to be a 255,000-pound vehicle coming in at 200+ miles an hour in New York doesn't mean you automatically get the right of way. So say about 150 turtles that crawled onto a runway at New York City's JFK airport Wednesday morning.

At about 6:45 am, the band of turtles decided it was time to take a stroll on the inviting tarmac. It was enough to delay flights as crews cleared them from the tarmac. The time it took to get full clearance though, the turtles set up a Twitter feed and ramped up more than 2,800 followers describing their dilemma. Cleverly, some complained about the Transportation Security Administration.

"We go straight to the runway because it takes 5 hours to get out of our shells for the TSA" ...."And the shell pat down option is too awkward."

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Turtles on the Tarmac

Nathaniel Hines is based in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil, and is an Anchor for Allvoices.

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Post a Comment Comments: 10

Posted By

atifji75 | almost 2 years ago

America has to establish a board for investigation that those turtles are either Afghans or Paki talibaans.

Reply By

Nathaniel Hines | almost 2 years ago

I think your right. Their plan to disrupt airline traffic has been going on for more than a decade. It took them that long to get here.

Posted By

Laurie Graessle | almost 2 years ago

Too funny - great report!

Reply By

Nathaniel Hines | almost 2 years ago

I have to find the twitter account. I'll bet there was some pretty funny barbs going on.

Posted By

javaidazim | almost 2 years ago

Really a interesting and informative news story !

Reply By

Nathaniel Hines | almost 2 years ago

I thought it was a good way for nature to slow us down.

Posted By

Caitlin Tadlock | almost 2 years ago

That's awesome! I would have loved to seen millions of ittle bitty turts walkin' around the runway! Yay!

Reply By

Nathaniel Hines | almost 2 years ago

I read somewhere that it happens every couple of years due to their nature birthing timetable.

Posted By

Vicky247 | almost 2 years ago

This is very beautiful story for turtles. Thank you (I am human! LOL).

Posted By

saadkhan | over 1 year ago

Thanks for sharing this report. Rated up.

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Images

Turtles at JFK

Turtles at JFK

Image Source: allvoices

Turtles on the Tarmac
US security personnel patrol ...

US security personnel patrol ...

Image Source: www.afp.com

US security personnel patrol at JFK airport in New York
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An Emirates Airline flight ...

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An Emirates Airline flight touches down at New York's JFK airport in 2008
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The Port Authority Police ...

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Passengers have their luggage ...

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Passengers have their luggage screened by the TSA in Terminal 4 of JFK ...