Operation Teddy Bear

Captain Bruno Cano took this picture of his crew on IB0447 Madrid-Bilbao: Co-pilot Inés González de Castejón (right), Purser Marta González (left), and Cabin Attendants Martina Prieto, Anabelle Sánchez. and María Barbosa.

"The teddy bear Abudarías accidentally became the protagonist of this curious tale with a happy ending.

It was during the Christmas holiday season that it happened, on a flight from Madrid to Bilbao.

Travelling with his mother and sister on 5 January on Iberia flight IB0447 was little Orson, who thought it would be a good time to write his letter to the Three Kings who deliver presents to Spanish children on 6 January. He thought the flight crew could easily deliver the letter to the appropriate royal authorities.

In his letter, Orson wrote that he had been playing in the children’s play area in Madrid airport Terminal 4, near boarding gate K82, when he tossed his teddy bear Abudarías unto the air. Unfortunately, it landed atop one of the airport’s columns and was much too high to be retrieved. Abudarías had to stay there or Orson would miss his flight.

All I want for Christmas is my teddy bear back , - he wrote in his letter-.  I left it at Gate K82 and I’m sure it’s still there.

Word of Orson’s problem quickly spread to the entire crew, and we passed it along to the rest of Iberia, AENA, the owner of the Spanish airports, and Madrid airport’s Lost and Found office.

The teddy bear was found and delivered to the crew when they returned to Madrid. After a short hop to Rome, Abudarías and the crew finished our day’s work with another quick return trip to Bilbao. Abudarías visited Rome and made that flight a special, funny and unforgettable one.

Iberia’s Customer department was able to contact Orson’s family in Bilbao and asked them to come to Loiu airport to greet a very special passenger. Orson’s grandfather came to pick up Abudarías. ”Operation Teddy Bear” was completed.

Well, almost. We received a thank-you note from Orson. You don’t know how much that teddy bear means to me, -he wrote-. That’s why I will never forget the fifth of January, 2019.

By Marta González, Purser, Short- and Medium-haul Fleet.