Plane Landing Delayed Due to Cougar on Runway

Friedman Memorial Airport in Hailey, Idaho had to delay flights from landing Saturday night because a mountain lion was prowling around on the runway.

A Delta flight from Salt Lake City ended up being delayed for 20 minutes while staff tried to handle the cougar. Airport personnel made an attempt to corral the big cat and a conservation officer shot it in order to protect the public.

Idaho Department of Fish and Game officials say that there was not a safe way to trap the juvenile lion and no tranquilizer gun was available to the officer. Tracks indicated that the cougar had been hanging around the perimeter of the airport for several days.