- Air Charter Service helped transport an injured sea turtle named Snooki from a North Carolina rescue centre to her new home at a Minnesota zoo.
- Due to a spinal injury, Snooki could not return to the wild and required special handling, including temperature regulation and constant moisture.
- ACS arranged a Falcon 20F jet with onboard heating and a handler in the cargo bay to keep her safe and hydrated during the flight. The operation ran smoothly, and Snooki arrived safely at her new, much larger habitat.
Air Charter Service (ACS) has completed a specialised wildlife transport operation, moving an injured sea turtle named Snooki from a rehabilitation centre in North Carolina to a permanent habitat at a zoo in Minnesota. The mission highlights the growing role of tailored air charter solutions in handling sensitive, non-standard cargo requiring precise environmental and welfare controls.
Snooki had suffered a spinal injury several years ago, leaving her with limited mobility and making a return to the wild impossible. After an extended search for a suitable long-term facility, a Minnesota zoo was selected to provide a significantly larger and more appropriate environment—nearly 50 times the size of her previous enclosure.
Aircraft Selection and Environmental Control
Given the animal’s medical condition, transport planning centred on maintaining strict temperature and moisture requirements. Sea turtles can only remain out of water for limited periods, and Snooki required continuous hydration and stable warmth throughout the journey.
ACS sourced a Falcon 20F freighter jet for the operation, selected for its ability to maintain controlled cabin temperatures using the aircraft’s internal heating systems. Additional thermal support, including heat packs and blankets, was prepared onboard to ensure environmental stability during flight.
A trained handler travelled in the cargo hold, positioned on the crew jump seat, to monitor Snooki’s condition and regularly mist her with a hand sprayer to maintain moisture levels. The turtle was secured in a specially prepared crate, which was carefully loaded via forklift and rigged with netting to allow safe access for in-flight care.
Operational Oversight and Smooth Execution
To ensure seamless coordination, a member of ACS’s New York team was present on-site in North Carolina during loading. The charter departed without operational issues and arrived at Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airporton schedule. From there, Snooki was transferred by road for the final leg of the journey to her new habitat.
Richard Thompson, President of ACS’s American offices, said the mission demonstrated the importance of meticulous planning and aircraft selection when transporting live animals with complex welfare needs. He noted that the combination of onboard climate control, in-flight monitoring, and ground coordination was essential to the success of the move.
Specialist Charters Beyond Traditional Cargo
While ACS is widely known for commercial cargo and passenger charter services, wildlife and zoological logistics represent a niche but demanding segment. Such missions require close collaboration between veterinarians, handlers, and aviation specialists to meet both regulatory requirements and animal welfare standards.
For Snooki, the operation marked the start of a new phase in a purpose-built environment better suited to her long-term care—an outcome made possible through specialised air logistics expertise.
