This is the dramatic moment a runaway pet dog sprinted across the airport tarmac in Taiwan.

Footage shows the escaped Border Collie bolting across the grounds of Taoyuan International Airport on October 18.

The canine had arrived that evening on a China Airlines flight from Sapporo, Japan, and was being unloaded by ground handling staff when the incident unfolded.

As the travel crate was being lowered on a belt loader, the pooch reportedly leaned against one side, tipping the container over. The fall caused the door to spring open, giving the animal a chance to flee.

Airport officials said they were notified of the escape at 7:03 pm local time and immediately dispatched staff and vehicles to search the area. The situation was closely monitored to ensure the safety of runway operations.

Authorities noted that the more people approached, the more the pet became agitated, continuing to run and hide around the airfield.

The dog was finally located at 8:50 pm on a ring road near the airport's southern boundary. The owner and ground staff tracked it down using a GPS pet device.

Following the incident, the airport operator said airline crews and ground personnel had been asked to review and improve safety measures for transporting animals.

No injuries were reported.