Turkish Airlines put 'heroic' earthquake rescue dogs in the passenger cabin on their flights home — and even let some sit in business class

Turkish Airlines said it carried dogs from countries including Thailand, Kyrgyzstan, Hungary, and China.

Turkish Airlines

• Turkish Airlines flew earthquake rescue dogs home for free on special flights.
• More than 50,000 people died after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Turkey and Syria on February 6.
• The dogs were flown in from around the world to help locate victims trapped beneath the rubble.

Turkish Airlines said it had flown earthquake rescue dogs and their handlers back home for free on special flights.

The carrier didn't want the dogs to travel in the cargo hold after their hard work trying to locate victims of the devastating earthquakes last month, so put them in the passenger cabin. Some dogs even got to travel in business class. 

A representative for Turkish Airlines told Insider: "It was the least we could to do show our appreciation for these heroic dogs' sincere and heroic efforts."

More than 50,000 people were killed when the 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck Turkey and Syria on February 6.

In excess of 100,000 people were also injured, including some survivors who spent close to a week trapped beneath the rubble.

These rescue dogs are pictured waiting for their return flight to Thailand.

Turkish Airlines

Rescue dogs were sent to Turkey from a number of countries including the US, the UK, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Libya, Poland, and Switzerland. 

Turkish Airlines told Insider that it had flown dogs from countries including Thailand, Kyrgyzstan, Hungary, and China.

Mexico also sent its famous team of search-and-rescue dogs, which rose to fame in 2017 after they helped find survivors of the Puebla earthquake in Mexico that killed about 370 people.

Frida, a golden Labrador belonging to the Mexican Navy, became a national icon in Mexico after she was photographed in her boots and googles.

Frida has been honored with a statue in Mexico City.

Ronaldo Schemidt/Getty Images

Although Frida died last year, one of her comrades from the 2017 rescue efforts was among those helping out in Turkey, BBC News reported.

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