A bear sparked panic when it escaped from its cage on a flight from Dubai to Iraq.

The Syrian brown bear was loaded onto a crate in the hold of the Iraqi Airways Boeing 737 when it broke loose at the Dubai International Airport on Friday, August 5.

The incident caused a delay of several hours for the flight, which was carrying 150 passengers, from the Middle Eastern transit hub to Baghdad.

Wildlife experts sedated the bear and removed it from the plane. The bear was then taken to a wildlife sanctuary in Dubai.

It is not yet clear how the bear escaped from its crate. Iraqi Airways said that it followed all international animal welfare guidelines in transporting the bear, and that the crate was in good condition. The airline also said that it is investigating the incident.

The Iraqi prime minister has also ordered an investigation into the incident. He has also called for stricter regulations on the transportation of wild animals by air.