A Saudi prince is trending online after images of his luxurious flight with 80 falcons re-emerged eliciting different reactions from members of the public.

The images at first were bizarre and netizens thought that the pictorials had been photoshopped, only to learn that it was indeed true  and that 80 falcons were flown by air.

In the winter of 2017, passengers aboard a Middle Eastern flight were surprised to find themselves sharing their journey with 80 feathered co-passengers.

The Saudi Prince had booked every seat in the airplane for his cherished falcons, ensuring they would travel in comfort and security.

However how much this information sounds shocking, it is a common practice in the middle East as majority of the people practice falconry an art passed down across generations.

Falconry, the sport of hunting with birds of prey, holds a significant cultural and historical status in the Arabian Peninsula.

The tradition dates back over 2,000 years and is deeply ingrained in Arab heritage and identity. Falcons, especially the Peregrine Falcon and Saker Falcon, are highly prized birds, often seen as status symbols among the wealthy in the Middle East.

It is so much engraved in their tradition such that the birds are even permitted by law to own passports that allow them to travel to Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and other nations.

The passports were introduced by the UAE in the year 2002 as a measure to combat illegal smuggling of the birds

This event,  revealed a fascinating intersection of tradition and modernity, luxury and nature. It showcased how an ancient practice like falconry can find its place in the contemporary world, even in as unexpected a place as an airplane’s cabin.

The prince in question has since been identified as the crowned Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed Bin Salmam.

Mohammed is quite famous among the affluent due to his love for the finer things in life.