Where’s the moose? Suitcase full of moose meat goes missing on flight [Updated]

Lost luggage is just one of the many annoyances travellers can face. Newfoundlander Liam English learned that the hard way when his suitcase disappeared en route from St. John’s to Ottawa.

What was inside the suitcase? Eleven kilograms of frozen moose meat, including four moose roasts, four steaks, three packs of ground moose and four packs of moose sausages.

English, originally from Newfoundland but now living in Ottawa, says he decided to stock up while visiting his family. 

“It’s like gold to anyone in Newfoundland,” he tells As It Happens host Carol Off. “It’s one of the best things you can eat.”

I didn’t expect this much excitement from a little bit of missing moose meat.- Liam English

Along with the frozen meat, he lost some personal belongings, including medication and a new suit he bought during his trip.

English says Air Canada contacted him on Wednesday and told him they think they have found his suitcase, “but they’re not sure”, he says. It’s being sent to the airport in Ottawa, where English will have to confirm that it is his lost bag.

Meanwhile, his story has already gone viral, appearing on news websites from Canada to Luxembourg. 

“I didn’t expect this much excitement from a little bit of missing moose meat,” English says. “If anyone wants to send me some meat, I wouldn’t mind that either.”

UPDATE

After his interview on As It Happens English was accompanied by an Air Canada representative to the Ottawa airport where they confirmed that the unclaimed suitcase was indeed his.

The moose meat was spoiled -- as expected -- and promptly tossed into the garbage. English says he will try to salvage some of his clothing, which was covered in meat juice.  

According to English, the airline told him that the tags on his suitcase had been ripped off, which led to them to getting lost in transit.