A touching story about the loss of a stuffed toy at Istanbul Airport received an overwhelming response. More than 45 thousand people joined the social media campaign under the concise hashtag #RETURNPANDA. The search for the panda was joined not only by representatives from Domodedovo Airport, Istanbul, and the airline "Ural Airlines," but also by the media, bloggers, pilots, and air traffic controllers. After a few days of searching, the toy was found and returned to the girl.

Pandik, as the toy was affectionately called by Marusya, has been her loyal friend for five years. They spend time together and travel the world. Once, Marusya went to Turkey with her family and Panda for a few days. However, upon returning from their vacation to Domodedovo, her faithful companion was no longer there.

– All my trips I remember only with Panda; she’s always on the suitcase. When we got back to Moscow, and the suitcase arrived but the toy didn’t, it was a disaster. Marusya took the suitcase, turned to me with eyes full of sorrow. At first, I didn’t understand what had happened. I asked, "Bunny, what happened?" And she replied, "Panda..." – says Marusya’s mother, Natalia Lomova.

As soon as the loss was discovered, the girl's mother posted on social media asking for help in the search. With the combined efforts of "Ural Airlines," the airline's representatives at the Turkish airport, our colleagues from Domodedovo, and thousands of concerned people, they managed to find the teddy bear.

It turned out that the toy was left in the security area of Istanbul Airport. While the plush traveler was choosing a ticket back home, he managed to explore the local sights of the airport, rest in the apartments, and prepare for departure.

On board the plane, the panda was welcomed by the crew, led by Hero of Russia, Captain Damir Yusupov. He gave the bear a
brief tour.

– As a father, I know that losing a toy is very painful for a child, and no vacation can interest them after that. So, when we heard about this story, we responded and decided to help, – noted Damir Yusupov.

By the way, the flight itself was no less eventful for the bear. It was warmly welcomed on board, comfortably settled, and treated to a vegetarian dinner. In Moscow, the plush friend was greeted with tight hugs.

– Panda is very dear to me. When I lost him, I cried a lot and was afraid that my friend would be lost forever. I’m so glad he’s finally home, – shared her feelings Marusya.