New York's LaGuardia airport briefly shut down as pup runs free on runway

A pooch named, appropriately enough, Byrdie, took flight at New York's LaGuardia airport on Wednesday – but not in the way her owner intended.

The 30lb Rhodesian ridgeback bolted from her crate as she was being loaded onto her Memphis-bound Delta Air flight Wednesday, shutting down all traffic at the bustling hub for 10 minutes.

Authorities tried unsuccessfully to collar the 14-month-old pup, who took off down the tarmac and refused to to be corralled. Desperate Port Authority cops finally pulled the dog's owner, Austin Varner, off the flight and drove her onto the runway.

"Your dog escaped," a Delta employee told Varner, according to the New York Post. "We have got her kind of surrounded, but can't catch her."

"Get me out there," Varner reportedly replied. "She'll come to me."

They did, and she did. The pup instantly ran to her owner on the side of the runway.

Byrdie was locked in her crate with 20 zip ties, to ensure she wouldn't bolt again – one for each minute the flight was ultimately delayed.