Dutch Processed

So through a navigational snafu, a Netherlands Air Force plane landed at Little Rock National Airport in Arkansas instead of Little Rock Air Force Base in Jacksonville, Ark. No big deal, right? Just get those Dutch flyboys refueled, show them a map, and send them on their merry way. Not so fast! What about the two bags of trash produced by the 10-person crew during the flight?

In most cases, trash from international flights is incinerated upon arrival since the government regulates all incoming material (primarily to prevent the spread of foreign plant and animal pests and diseases). And most international airports are equipped to do this. But, as its full name clearly indicates, Little Rock National is NOT an international airport.

The result? A charge of $1,750 to have the trash incinerated off site. For about twice that, the airport could have bought its own incinerator (which it is now looking into).

Seems like a lot of fuss for some Heineken bottles, salty licorice and a half-eaten wheel of Gouda.

Source: USA Today